Insempra, a biology-powered firm renowned for its work in transforming natural resources into superior products, and Fibers365, a trailblazer in processing chemical-free fibers and substrates from annual plants, announced today their partnership aimed at developing and scaling sustainable second-generation (2G) feedstock. This innovative approach will enable the commercial production of fermentation-based ingredients, marking a significant stride in sustainable biotechnology.
Second-generation feedstocks, also known as lignocellulosic feedstocks, are a crucial area of exploration in the biotechnology sector as the industry responds to the growing demand for these in fermentation processes. In addition, these feedstocks have immense potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by replacing fossil-based and deforestation-based ingredients in consumer goods. To harness this potential, Insempra has developed a wide-ranging toolkit for leveraging feedstocks derived from agricultural waste and intermediates generated through carbon capture.
Fibers365’s patented, modular, farm-level Steam Fiber Plants allow the competitive extraction of functional cellulosic fibers, lignin, and sugars from diverse non-wood biomass feedstocks. Currently utilized in biogas production, these extracted sugars can be further enhanced to create high-value products via fermentation for various industrial applications.
Stefan Radlmayr, Founder and Managing Partner of Fibers365, commented on the collaboration, stating, “By working together with Insempra, we are combining our unique 2G feedstock derived from agricultural side streams with the highly advanced fermentation technology platform needed to scale and make this sustainable feedstock accessible to broader applications.”
A key challenge in adopting 2G feedstocks on a large scale has been the intrinsic material stability of lignocellulosic materials. Unlike first-generation feedstocks, which contain easily accessible sugars, lignocellulosic biomass consists of complex structures necessitating pre-treatment and enzymatic hydrolysis to release the sugars. However, with its proprietary fermentation technology platform, Insempra has successfully tested Fibers365’s 2G feedstock derived from agricultural waste streams, such as wheat straw. This innovative technology is being used to develop specialty lipids for application in the beauty, personal care, nutraceuticals, and food industries.
Jens Klein, CEO & Founder of Insempra, expressed his excitement about the collaboration, stating, “Using second-generation feedstocks in our manufacturing processes has always been one of our priorities as a biology-powered business. We are tremendously excited about the potential this technology has for our businesses and the whole industry.”
Insempra and Fibers365 are joining forces to tackle the challenge of scaling 2G feedstocks. The partnership underscores their commitment to manufacturing at scale in collaboration with nature, thereby contributing to a more sustainable and circular future.
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