Deep Branch

Deep Branch, which now operates as Aerbio following a buyout in 2024, is a biotechnology company that converts captured carbon dioxide into high-value protein for animal feed. The company was founded in 2018 by Peter Rowe, Rob Mansfield, and Bart Pander, who met during their PhD studies at the University of Nottingham, where they specialized in gas fermentation. Rowe, the CEO, has a background in molecular microbiology and has worked in both technical and commercial roles in biotechnology.

The company's core technology utilizes a gas fermentation process where microbes are fed carbon dioxide from industrial emissions and hydrogen as a clean energy source. This process cultivates microorganisms in a bioreactor, which are then harvested and dried into a powder called Proton™. Proton™ is a single-cell protein with a protein content of around 70%, comparable to high-quality fishmeal, a standard in aquaculture feed. The business model focuses on co-locating its production facilities with industrial partners that generate large volumes of CO2, such as power stations, creating a circular economy approach. By using industrial emissions as a feedstock, the company provides a sustainable alternative to conventional animal feed proteins like soy and fishmeal, which are linked to deforestation and overfishing.

Deep Branch serves the animal feed industry, with a primary focus on the aquaculture and poultry markets. It has established partnerships with major feed producers like BioMar and AB Agri to develop and test Proton™-based feed formulations for salmon and chickens. The company has received significant funding, including a Series A round of €8 million led by Novo Holdings and DSM Venturing, and multiple grants from Innovate UK and the European Innovation Council. Deep Branch operates a pilot facility at the Brightlands Chemelot Campus in the Netherlands and has conducted trials with industrial partners like Drax Power Group in the UK and OCAP in the Port of Rotterdam. The acquisition by Aerbio in 2024, with the original management team largely remaining, is intended to further scale the technology and commercialize Proton™.

Keywords: carbon recycling, single-cell protein, gas fermentation, animal feed, aquaculture feed, sustainable protein, CO2 utilization, industrial emissions, biotechnology, Proton, alternative protein, circular economy, agrifood, food security, carbon capture, feed ingredients, poultry feed, fishmeal alternative, sustainable agriculture, cleantech