MicroHarvest Scales Microbial Protein Production to 10 Tons Daily in New Trial – vegconomist

German biotech MicroHarvest, the developer of one of the fastest protein production technologies in the world, announces it has reached a significant scaling milestone in a new large-scale trial.
The startup claims it has expanded its production process to 10 tons per day in a single vessel, representing a ten-fold increase over its current capacity. MicroHarvest states that this significant progress validates its ability to deliver sustainable proteins in quantities to meet commercial demands.
“We have found a solution to address the urgent industry need to diversify protein sources at scale now”
CEO Katelijne Bekers comments, “While many biotechnology startups struggle to scale their production beyond small pilot volumes in the range of a few kilos, we’ve always successfully run pilots with 50-100 kg of product. In addition, we have found a solution to address the urgent industry need to diversify protein sources at scale now.”
© MicroHarvest
Constant parameters for a commercial plant
The German biotech explains that the trial results confirmed that the microorganisms behaved stably and predictably and that critical process parameters remained consistent in small-scale trials or larger productions. They also demonstrated a quick seed train, from cryovial to full-scale production, over ten times faster than traditional methods in the food industry.
With these results, the company aims to increase the production capacity to 15,000 tons of microbial protein per year at a commercial scale facility by the end of 2026 without encountering major issues, maintaining quality, high efficiency, and reduced costs.
COO Jonathan Roberz said, “Our technology minimizes the risk of contamination and focuses on quickly recovering production upon technical problems. Having overcome any remaining technological barriers, MicroHarvest is committed to reaching its kiloton output target.”
Image courtesy of MicroHarvest
Proteins in just 24 hours
MicroHarvest produces fermentation-enabled protein for food and feed, using a proprietary technology based on biomass fermentation and agricultural side streams as feedstock. The protein can be made in just 24 hours from input to output, using a fraction of land and fossil fuel resources, significantly reducing environmental impact. The microbial protein is said to deliver essential amino acids, minerals, and vitamins.
MicroHarvest, with headquarters in Hamburg and a pilot facility in Lisbon, has secured €10 million to date, including an €8.5 million Series A funding round led by Astanor Ventures and €1.5 million from Simon Capital. Currently, the company is about to close of a Series B funding round.
The company has collaborated with VEGDOG to create a first-of-its-kind microbial protein dog treat, is conducting trials with global aqua feed producers for salmon and shrimp, and plans to expand applications in human nutrition.
“Our demonstrated process stability at scale puts us in a unique position to actually match market demand in 2026,” Bekers added.

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