San Francisco-based The Every Company has received a $2 million award from the US Department of Defense (DoD) to explore establishing a precision fermentation facility in the US.
With the funding, EVERY will conduct a feasibility study for a manufacturing site for its two main fermentation-derived ingredients: OvoBoost, a highly soluble protein for protein-boosting, and OvoPro (ovalbumin) for egg and egg white replacement in food and beverages. In addition, the biotech company will develop military applications using OvoBoost to provide high-quality nutrition via concentrated formats.
“Investing in biomanufacturing will allow the United States to safeguard reliable domestic supply chains”
Co-founder and CEO Arturo Elizondo commented, “Our technology allows us to bring novel applications to market using our soluble protein. Imagine a glass of water that looks and tastes like water but contains 20 grams of protein. That’s what our protein can do,” says Elizondo.
A biomanufacturing revolution
The investment is part of the as part of the Distributed Bioindustrial Manufacturing Program (DBIMP) focused on enhancing US biomanufacturing capabilities in crucial areas, including food, that directly impact sustainability and national security. For example, EVERY’s production is described as eco-friendly, using minimal land and water while leveraging US-grown corn, which supports the country’s rural economy.
Other food-focused precision fermentation companies that received awards to assess the feasibility of production plants by DoD’s program include Australia’s Cauldron; DSM Nutritional Products, based in Plainsboro, US; California’s Checkerspot; Chicago’s The Fynder Group; Liberation Labs, based in New York City (and a facility in Richmond); and Perfect Day, based in Berkeley, California. Follow-up funding of up to $100 million will be available if their feasibility assessments are successful.
“The next industrial revolution will be a biomanufacturing revolution”
Meanwhile, other fermentation startups already benefiting from US government support to develop alternative proteins program include The Better Meat Co., Air Protein, C16 Biosciences, Onego Bio, and Savor Foods.
Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, Heidi Shyu commented, “The next industrial revolution will be a biomanufacturing revolution. DoD is keenly aware of that reality.”
Novel egg proteins entering the mass market
Currently, EVERY Company manufactures its proteins in Europe and Asia. A US facility would allow it to expand in its home country, where EVERY protein has received FDA clearance for commercialization.
Backed by the success of scaling the technology at an industrial level (>100,000L), the San Francisco company has plans to enter the mass market next year. “Our focus for the next 12 months will be on entering the mass market. However, most of our customers require thousands of metric tons of product. This award will allow us to work towards expanding our production capacity to meet their needs,” Elizondo said.
The EVERY Company was recently granted a new patent covering the scope and use of its precision fermentation-derived ovalbumin. Ovalbumin is the protein responsible for eggs’ functional properties, such as foaming, binding, and gelling, making it highly valued in the food industry.
Multinationals Grupo Nutresa, Colombia’s largest food company, Grupo Palacios, the world’s leading producer of Spanish omelets, and The Vegetarian Butcher have partnered with EVERY to use its sustainable, animal-free proteins.
Elizondo added, “Investing in biomanufacturing will allow the United States to safeguard reliable domestic supply chains, reduce reliance on foreign imports, and establish itself as a leader in food technology, especially in the face of rising global challenges such as food insecurity, zoonotic disease risk, and climate change.”
