The 40 Hottest Technologies of 2018 – as voting gets underway, the nominees in depth
Arbiom Wood to Food Technology Platform
What does it do, how does it work, who is it aimed at?
Arbiom’s proprietary bioprocessing and fermentation technology produces a,high-quality protein ingredient for animal feed from wood that that is nutritional, economical, traceable and sustainable, and can be produced in industrial-scale quantities. Arbiom is meeting the sharp increase in global protein requirements with bioprocessing and fermentation technology that transforms the most sustainable and readily available carbon source in the world, wood, into a natural, economical, traceable and sustainable high-protein product (enhanced torula yeast) with enhanced amino acid content for animal feed. The technology enables an economically viable production pathway from wood to food, unlocking an untapped and abundant carbohydrate source from wood, decoupling the production of food from conventional foodstuffs and fossil fuels, and representing innovation that requires less resources and has less of an impact on the environment in order to sustainably meet the nutritional needs of animals and ultimately humans. The technology enhances the quality of protein sources available for aquaculture and livestock farmers, while conserving the health and resources of the planet, enabling the sustainable growth of animal protein production.
Competitively, what gives this technology an edge?
Arbioms high-protein product has benefits that exceed available protein sources, including: nutritional value, economical price-performance and production volume, traceable sourcing and sustainable production process. The enhanced amino acid content (particularly methionine, lysine, and threonine), high digestibility, and rich beta glucan/mannan content address two critical issues facing animal feed producers & farmers: protein sourcing and gastrointestinal health. Torula yeast is already a globally-approved feed ingredient/additive so it has a faster route to commercial adoption than other alternative proteins. Additionally, Arbiom technology offers an opportunity to produce a higher-value end product from wood/ wood wastes, leveraging the forest products industrys strong supply chains and asset base dedicated to sourcing and processing wood, and the high volume of by-product material, residues and wastes that lumber and paper mills produce, which is typically burned on-site.
What stage of development is this technology at right now?
SylPro has been proven at the pilot level and is currently under development at the demonstration level. Arbiom anticipates test quantities to be available by the end of 2018. Arbiom is currently in the process of building a demonstration facility, with the groundbreaking for the facility expected later in 2018. Following completion of the facility and all needed regulatory approvals and testing, Arbiom will look to the next step of commercial production.
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