Vivici, a Dutch precision fermentation company, has secured a manufacturing partnership with US-based Liberation Labs for the production of its beta-lactoglobulin (BLG) protein ingredient, Vivitein™. The agreement will see Vivici’s product manufactured at Liberation Labs’ new facility in Richmond, Indiana, with commercial-scale output expected to begin in 2026.
The Richmond site is Liberation Labs’ first commercial-scale biomanufacturing facility, currently under construction. It will feature 600,000 liters of fermentation capacity and a fully integrated downstream process. The company plans to use this infrastructure to produce a variety of bio-based materials, including proteins, chemicals, and ingredients for consumer and industrial applications.
Expansion into the US market
Vivici’s CEO, Stephan van Sint Fiet, stated that the partnership would expand the company’s manufacturing footprint beyond Europe and help meet customer demand in the United States. “Our partnership with Liberation Labs expands our European manufacturing capabilities, providing US customers with increased supply security for Vivitein™ BLG,” he said.
A dairy-identical protein
Vivitein™ BLG is a dairy-identical protein produced through precision fermentation. The ingredient is intended for use in a range of high-protein applications, such as clear beverages, protein powders, and snack bars. While derived without the use of animals, Vivitein™ is compositionally similar to whey protein, offering functional properties that allow it to replace traditional dairy components in product formulations.
Liberation Labs CEO Mark Warner noted that Vivici aligns with the company’s model of providing scaled fermentation infrastructure for novel ingredients. “Vivici is a perfect reference case for our facility—a company seeking cost-effective and sustainable manufacturing of a novel protein ingredient,” Warner said.
