Israel’s Brevel, a biomass fermentation startup producing microalgae proteins, announces that it has completed the construction of its demonstration facility and secured two commercial agreements with leading F&B companies.
The startup inaugurated a new site in Southern Israel this June, featuring headquarters, R&D space, and proprietary industrial-scale fermenters. The facility has been designed to implement a First-Of-A-Kind (FOAK) strategy to showcase the fermentation process at a commercial scale for the first time.
With the FOAK strategy, Brevel aims to demonstrate that its fermentation technology is viable for real-world applications, reducing the perceived risk for investors, customers, and partners. “Once such validation is achieved, the focus shifts to operational and market challenges, significantly reducing overall risk,” Brevel comments.
Collaborations to realize alt proteins
Brevel says it has secured long-term offtake agreements and joint ventures with commercial partners, indicating confidence in its technology and product. In addition, the startup is working with manufacturing partners to develop microalgae protein facilities and says it is actively forming additional commercial partnerships to create a diverse and stable revenue base by securing multiple contracts.
In its latest Funding The Build report, the Good Food Institute has outlined the current funding landscape for alternative protein companies looking to scale from pilot to commercial manufacturing. The report highlights various strategies: building facilities eligible for funding in US programs and forming strategic partnerships with large agricultural or food corporations.
“Our report makes clear that companies have options, but these options are not enough. Collaboration, sustained effort, ingenuity, and patience are needed to unlock additional financing pathways.
“Together, governments, foundations, strategic companies, and investors can catalyze the funding the industry needs to realize alternative proteins’ transformative potential,” Sharyn Murray, GFI’s Senior Manager, Investor Engagement and Financing, commented.
Partnerships and agreements
The Golan brothers, CEO Yonatan, COO Matan, and CTO Ido, founded Brevel to meet the demand for nutritious, sustainable, and affordable proteins without using agricultural land. The company raised $18.5 million in a seed round last year, backed by NevaTeam Partners and the European Union’s EIC Fund.
Brevel’s proprietary technology involves cultivating microalgae using a unique fermentation process that combines light, sugar, and a non-GMO microalgae strain from the chlorella family to produce cost-effective, functional proteins and other co-products such as oil and fibers.
The Israeli startup says the systems are undergoing test runs at the new facility, and commercial production is expected to be initiated by early 2025, with efforts already underway to build additional, larger production lines.
“Now is the time for the next phase of plant-based 2.0”
Once operating at a large scale, the company said it will be able to produce hundreds of tons of its flagship ingredient — a 60-70% microalgae protein concentrate for meat and dairy alternatives. The finished FOAK facility will serve as a prototype for future expansions.
CEO Yonatan is hosting a panel at the Asia-Pacific Agri-Food Innovation Summit (November 19-21) on FOAK facilities and securing offtake agreements. He shares, “Food-Tech companies innovate the protein space. Plant-based burgers made a great impact in the market several years ago, bringing plant-based into the mainstream. Now is the time for the next phase of plant-based 2.0, which will be better for you, more nutritious, and affordable for consumers.
“Brevel’s proprietary technology and know-how enable us to create a chlorella-based protein that delivers a full amino-acid profile, a highly functional product, and at cost parity. It also has a neutral flavor and color, is highly sustainable, and leaves a minimal environmental footprint.”
