MicroHarvest
MicroHarvest is a Hamburg-based biotech company that produces single-cell protein ingredients via proprietary 24-hour bacterial fermentation, supplying B2B feed, pet food, and aquafeed manufacturers as a sustainable alternative to animal and plant proteins.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2021
- HeadquartersHamburg, Germany
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What MicroHarvest does
MicroHarvest GmbH is a Hamburg-based biotechnology company founded in April 2021 that produces protein ingredients via biomass fermentation using bacteria. Its proprietary process converts agricultural by-products into single-cell protein in a claimed 24-hour cycle—marketed as the world's fastest protein production method—operating independently of climate and soil, with reported CO2 emissions more than 95% below conventional animal and plant protein sources. The company's product portfolio includes a core microbial protein ingredient with over 60% crude protein content, the MPX CARE line for pet food, the MPX BOOST line for aquaculture, and the HILIX specialty ingredient derived from extracted bacterial cells. MicroHarvest holds GMP+ feed safety certification and QPS-listed bacterial strains, with manufacturing currently at 1 ton/day via contract manufacturing and 10 tons/day demonstrated in a single vessel at its Lisbon pilot plant, ahead of a planned 15,000-tonne/year industrial facility at Industriepark Leuna in Germany targeted to come online around 2028.
The company operates as a B2B ingredients supplier, selling protein ingredients to feed producers, pet food manufacturers, and aquafeed companies through direct enterprise sales with quote-based pricing and multi-year contracts. Named commercial partners include VEGDOG (pet treats and cat snacks launched April 2024 and November 2025), THE PACK (UK 'Gut Bites' launched October 2025), Hey Bones, Vetura, and AniAma/Vulfi for pet food, alongside active validation trials with multiple global aquafeed producers. MicroHarvest is venture-backed, having raised over €10M in equity (€8.5M Series A led by Astanor Ventures and Happiness Capital, plus €1.5M from Simon Capital) and secured a €5.46M German federal grant for the Leuna build. The company employs approximately 30 people across Hamburg and Lisbon, with co-founders Katelijne Bekers (CEO), Luísa Cruz (CTO), and Jonathan Roberz (COO) leading the business.
MicroHarvest firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- MicroHarvest
- Legal name
- MicroHarvest GmbH
- Website
- https://microharvest.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2021
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- MicroHarvest is a Hamburg-based biotech company that produces single-cell protein ingredients via proprietary 24-hour bacterial fermentation, supplying B2B feed, pet food, and aquafeed manufacturers as a sustainable alternative to animal and plant proteins.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
MicroHarvest industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Alternative Protein Ingredients
- NAICS
- Food Manufacturing (311), Dried and Dehydrated Food Manufacturing (311423)
- SIC
- Miscellaneous Food Preparations & Kindred Products (2090), Food And Kindred Products (2000)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Specialty & Novel Proteins (Single-Cell Protein, Cell-Cultured/Animal-Free Proteins) (AFAJAHAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Fermentation-Derived Proteins (Precision Fermentation, Biomass Fermentation) (AFAJAHAH), Probiotics, Prebiotics & Postbiotics (Direct-Fed Microbials) (AFADALAE), Enzymes & Industrial Biotechnology Inputs (Enzymes, Microbial Strains, Fermentation Aids) (EUAAAIAL)
Keywords
Where MicroHarvest is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Hamburg
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices4 records
Markets served
MicroHarvest business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Protein Ingredient Sales: B2B sales of microbial protein ingredients (MPX product line) to feed, pet food, and food manufacturers. Ingredients are sold as raw materials for incorporation into customer products.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | B2B ingredient sales with customized pricing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
MicroHarvest product offering
Product offeringCore offering
MicroHarvest produces single-cell protein ingredients through proprietary biomass fermentation technology. The company grows bacterial strains on agricultural by-products in bioreactors, then harvests, inactivates, and dries the cells to produce protein ingredients in 24 hours. Products are sold B2B to feed producers, pet food manufacturers, and aquafeed companies as sustainable alternatives to conventional animal and plant-based proteins.
Product overview
MicroHarvest operates as a B2B ingredients company offering a portfolio of protein ingredients produced through proprietary 24-hour biomass fermentation technology. The product portfolio consists of: (1) Microbial Protein (Single Cell Protein) as the core whole-cell ingredient with over 60% protein content; (2) MPX BOOST product line targeting aquaculture feed with marine bacteria-based Single Cell Protein; (3) MPX CARE product line for pet food applications with microbial protein optimized for pet nutrition; and (4) HILIX specialty ingredient for aquaculture derived from extracted bacterial cells providing nucleotides and nutrients. The company serves feed, pet food, and human food markets, with products positioned as sustainable alternatives to conventional animal and plant-derived proteins.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- HILIX: Specialty aquafeed ingredient derived from extracted bacterial cells, providing semi-essential nutrients including free nucleotides, vitamins and minerals for aquaculture applications.
- MPX BOOST
- MPX CARE
Products and services
- HILIX HILIX is a specialty feed ingredient derived from extracted bacterial cells, providing semi-essential nutrients including free nucleotides, vitamins, and minerals. It is designed for aquaculture applications to support growth performance and health in species such as salmon and shrimp, while also acting as a palatant.
- MPX BOOST MPX BOOST is a Single Cell Protein product line for aquaculture, produced from marine bacteria (non-GMO) through innovative fermentation. It offers consistent quality with high digestibility and an excellent amino acid profile, designed to reduce fishmeal dependency and increase formulation flexibility for aquafeed manufacturers.
- MPX CARE MPX CARE is a microbial protein ingredient for pet food applications, derived from natural non-GMO fermentation. It contains over 60% raw protein with a complete essential amino acid profile and minerals. It is vegan, low-allergen risk, highly digestible, and has umami flavors suitable for treats and complete food formulations.
- Microbial Protein (Single Cell Protein) MicroHarvest's core microbial protein ingredient is a high-quality sustainable protein produced from whole-cell microorganisms via biomass fermentation. It contains over 60% crude protein with an excellent amino acid profile plus micronutrients such as vitamin B2 and iron. It is produced in 24 hours from agricultural by-products as feedstock, with applications across feed, pet food, and human food.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 95% less CO2 emissions compared to traditional animal and plant-derived protein sources
- +7 more outcomes
Companies that use MicroHarvest
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
MicroHarvest technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
MicroHarvest partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- VEGDOGcoreProduct partnership for pet food applications. Launched first microbial protein dog treat in Europe (April 2024). Expanded to cat snacks (VEGCAT) in November 2025. Product contains 60% protein including 10% MicroHarvest microbial protein.
- THE PACKcoreUK partnership for Gut Bites - first microbial protein dog treat for UK market (October 2025). Plant-based, oven-baked, gut-friendly treats targeting dogs with sensitivities and allergies.
- Industriepark LeunacoreIndustrial park operator and utilities provider for planned 15,000-tonne production facility. Selected after reviewing 40 European sites. Provides infrastructure, utilities, and surrounding agri-processing network.
- Food Fermentation EuropeminorFirst biomass fermentation member to join Food Fermentation Europe alliance (established 2023). Enables collaboration with precision fermentation companies on sustainable food systems.
- EIT Food Accelerator NetworkminorSelected for 2022 cohort. Benefited from workshops, mentoring, and networking with other startups and industry partners, hosted by XPRENEURS.
- NutrecominorSelected as one of 15 participants in Nutreco Feed & Food Tech Challenge. Received mentoring to validate and refine plans and pitch to expert teams.
- Madan ParqueminorPartner for setting up Portuguese subsidiary and offices/labs in Lisbon. Located at Nova University campus.
- Hey BonescoreEuropean pet food partner deploying MicroHarvest's waste-upcycled microbial protein ingredient across multiple products (part of 15 planned pet food products by June 2026).
- VeturacoreEuropean pet food partner deploying MicroHarvest's waste-upcycled microbial protein ingredient across multiple products (part of 15 planned pet food products by June 2026).
- AniAma (Vulfi)coreDirect-to-consumer brand of Vulfi deploying MicroHarvest's microbial protein in pet food products (part of 15 planned products by June 2026).
- Wageningen UniversityminorPartnership with Wageningen University Masters program to conduct consumer acceptance studies for microbial protein in pet food. Study surveyed 1,162 UK and German dog owners.
- Bio Base Europe Pilot PlantminorContract manufacturing partner where MicroHarvest completed successful production trial at scale for technology validation.
Scale indicators15 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights7 records
MicroHarvest competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- Corbion: Corbion produces sustainable ingredient solutions including fermentation-derived food ingredients (e.g., algae-based proteins via Terra). Broad incumbent operating in sustainable food ingredients space with adjacent fermentation technologies that overlap with MicroHarvest's B2B ingredient model.
Direct peers
- String Bio: String Bio produces fermented proteins, including methane-to-protein, for feed and agriculture applications. Comparable fermentation-derived protein ingredient producer targeting animal nutrition markets.
- Air Protein: Air Protein produces single-cell protein ingredients from CO2 via hydrogen-oxidizing bacteria fermentation. Comparable to MicroHarvest in single-cell protein ingredient production, with shared B2B positioning toward meat alternatives and sustainable protein markets.
- Arbiom: Arbiom produces SylPro, a single-cell protein from wood-derived feedstock using biomass fermentation, targeting aquafeed and pet food. Direct peer as a microbial protein ingredient supplier in adjacent fermentation pathways with comparable downstream applications.
- Calysta: Calysta produces FeedKind, a single-cell protein for aquafeed and pet food via methane fermentation. Closest direct competitor to MicroHarvest's MPX BOOST/HILIX aquafeed products, with shared focus on fishmeal replacement and large-scale production.
- Unibio: Unibio produces UniProtein, a bacterial single-cell protein from methane for animal feed and aquafeed. Direct competitor in the microbial protein-for-feed segment, with similar scaling journey from pilot to industrial production.
- Solar Foods: Solar Foods produces Solein, a single-cell protein made via gas fermentation from CO2 and hydrogen. Directly comparable to MicroHarvest as a single-cell protein ingredient producer targeting food applications, with comparable B2B ingredient model and recently commissioned Factory 01 in Finland.
Emerging players
- KnipBio: KnipBio produces single-cell protein from methanol fermentation for aquafeed. Emerging player with narrower focus on aquaculture feed ingredient, intersecting with MicroHarvest's MPX BOOST product line and fishmeal-replacement narrative.
Broad incumbents
- Quorn Foods: Quorn is the most established mycoprotein (fungal fermentation) food brand, producing meat alternative ingredients at industrial scale. Broader incumbent in fermentation-derived protein ingredients, sharing technology paradigm (biomass fermentation) but with mature consumer brand and scale.
- Novozymes (Novonesis): Novonesis (formerly Novozymes) is a global industrial biotechnology leader in enzymes and microbial fermentation. Broad incumbent with platform capabilities that could enter or enable single-cell protein ingredient production, representing both a potential competitor and supplier/enabler in the space.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
MicroHarvest social profiles
Digital presenceMicroHarvest compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
MicroHarvest financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
MicroHarvest leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
MicroHarvest subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
MicroHarvest funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds6 records
Investors8 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
MicroHarvest M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about MicroHarvest
What does MicroHarvest do?
MicroHarvest produces single-cell protein ingredients through proprietary biomass fermentation technology. The company grows bacterial strains on agricultural by-products in bioreactors, then harvests, inactivates, and dries the cells to produce protein ingredients in 24 hours. Products are sold B2B to feed producers, pet food manufacturers, and aquafeed companies as sustainable alternatives to conventional animal and plant-based proteins.
Is MicroHarvest a public or private company?
MicroHarvest is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was MicroHarvest founded?
MicroHarvest was founded in 2021. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is MicroHarvest based?
MicroHarvest is headquartered in Hamburg, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does MicroHarvest make money?
One revenue line is on record: protein Ingredient Sales.
Who are MicroHarvest's main competitors?
Corbion is listed as an others. Direct peers are String Bio, Air Protein, Arbiom, Calysta, Unibio and Solar Foods. KnipBio is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Quorn Foods and Novozymes (Novonesis).
Does MicroHarvest have an API?
No public API is recorded for MicroHarvest.
What industry is MicroHarvest in?
MicroHarvest's product category is Alternative Protein Ingredients. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAJAHAL, Specialty & Novel Proteins (Single-Cell Protein, Cell-Cultured/Animal-Free Proteins), with a secondary code of AFAJAHAH, Fermentation-Derived Proteins (Precision Fermentation, Biomass Fermentation). Its NAICS code is 311 and its SIC code is 2090.