Calysta
Calysta produces scalable single-cell protein ingredients via patented gas fermentation for aquaculture, pet food, livestock, and human food markets, selling FeedKind-branded ingredients globally through its Calysseo joint venture with Adisseo and direct channels.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersSan Mateo, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Calysta does
Calysta, Inc. is a San Mateo-based biotechnology company that produces single-cell protein ingredients via a patented gas fermentation platform using naturally occurring methanotrophic microorganisms. The platform converts carbon sources (methane/natural gas) into nutritionally complete, non-GMO protein in a high-capacity patented u-loop reactor, requiring no arable land, plant matter, or animal inputs, and capable of being powered by renewable energy. Its product family includes FeedKind Aqua (aquaculture feed), FeedKind Pet (dog and cat nutrition), FeedKind Terra (early-life livestock), FeedKind Net Zero (carbon-neutral variant), and Positive Protein (human food ingredients).
The company's go-to-market is a hybrid model combining direct enterprise ingredient sales with a 50/50 joint venture, Calysseo, established in February 2020 with Adisseo to commercialize FeedKind in Asia. Calysseo owns and operates the world's first industrial-scale FeedKind facility in Chongqing, China, producing 20,000 tonnes annually (with planned expansion to 80,000 tonnes); distribution leverages Adisseo's global sales network. In Europe, Calysta operates a GMP+ warehouse in Poland for pet food distribution and has launched commercial pet food products with Marsapet (MicroBell, 2025) and Dr. Clauder's (Trainee Snack, 2024). Multi-jurisdictional regulatory approvals (FDA GRAS for US salmonid feeds, MARA for China aquaculture, EU and UK approvals, V-Label vegan accreditation) underpin commercial entry across feed, pet food, livestock, and potential human food segments.
Revenue is generated from sales of protein ingredients to feed and food manufacturers under multi-year contracts priced competitively against fishmeal and soy protein; commercial-stage volumes began flowing from the Chongqing plant in 2022. As of November 2025, Calysta restructured to focus on manufacturing and sales, closing its US and UK R&D labs and pilot plants while exploring additional facilities in the Middle East (a planned 100,000-tonne Saudi Arabia plant with Food Caravan) and North America.
Calysta firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Calysta
- Legal name
- Calysta, Inc.
- Website
- https://calysta.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Calysta produces scalable single-cell protein ingredients via patented gas fermentation for aquaculture, pet food, livestock, and human food markets, selling FeedKind-branded ingredients globally through its Calysseo joint venture with Adisseo and direct channels.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Calysta industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Single-cell protein ingredients
- NAICS
- Animal Food Manufacturing (31111), Food Manufacturing (311)
- SIC
- Food And Kindred Products (2000)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Fermentation-Derived Proteins (Precision Fermentation, Biomass Fermentation) (AFAJAHAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Fermentation-Derived Alternative Proteins Manufacturing (Precision Fermentation) (AFAKAGAH), Bio-based Animal Feed Ingredients & Nutrition Co-products (e.g., DDGS, protein meals, yeast) (EUAAAIAI)
Keywords
Where Calysta is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Mateo
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
Calysta business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- FeedKind Protein Ingredients Sales: Sale of FeedKind protein as ingredients to feed and food manufacturers for use in aquaculture feeds, pet foods, and livestock feeds. Revenue generated from selling protein ingredients in commercial quantities.
- Joint Venture Production (Calysseo): 50/50 joint venture with Adisseo operates the production facility in China. Revenue shared through the JV structure, with Calysseo selling FeedKind protein through Adisseo's global distribution network.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Price competitive protein ingredient |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Calysta product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Calysta produces and sells a family of single-cell protein ingredients (the FeedKind brand) manufactured via a patented gas fermentation platform that uses naturally-occurring methanotrophic microorganisms to convert methane/natural gas into high-quality, non-GMO protein. Products are sold as B2B ingredients to aquaculture, pet food, livestock feed, and human food manufacturers, with industrial-scale production operated through the Calysseo joint venture with Adisseo in China.
Product overview
Calysta offers a family of protein ingredients produced via a patented gas fermentation platform that creates single-cell protein without arable land, plant, or animal products. The core products are FeedKind Aqua (for aquaculture), FeedKind Pet (for pet nutrition), FeedKind Net Zero (sustainable/net-zero variant), FeedKind Terra (for early animal nutrition), and Positive Protein (for human foods). Production is managed through Calysseo, a 50/50 joint venture with Adisseo, operating the world's first industrial-scale FeedKind facility in Chongqing, China (20,000 tonnes/year capacity), with plans for expansion in Saudi Arabia. The platform uses naturally-occurring, non-GMO microorganisms to convert carbon sources into nutritionally complete protein ingredients.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- FeedKind: Family of feed ingredients for aquaculture and livestock species, including FeedKind Aqua, FeedKind Net Zero, and FeedKind Terra
- FeedKind Pet
- FeedKind Net Zero
- FeedKind Terra
- Positive Protein
Products and services
- FeedKind Aqua A single-cell protein feed ingredient for aquaculture species including shrimp, salmon, seabass, bream, Japanese yellowtail, and warmwater carnivorous finfish. Produced via natural gas fermentation using a naturally-occurring microorganism that converts carbon into protein without arable land, plant, or animal matter.
- FeedKind Net Zero A microbial protein product powered by renewable energy and Calysta's circular fermentation platform, designed to achieve net-zero carbon emissions through CO2 capture and methanation processes used to convert waste back into usable carbon and energy.
- FeedKind Terra A high-value protein ingredient designed for early animal nutrition applications including post-weaning piglet diets and chick starter feeds. Approved for sale in several markets including throughout the EU.
- FeedKind Pet A single-cell protein ingredient for pet food applications including dry kibble, wet food, and treats for dogs and cats. Non-GMO with vegan accreditation from V-Label, offering industry-leading nutrition, palatability, and postbiotic gut-health benefits. Approved for use in pet foods across the EU, UK, Canada, and other countries.
- Positive Protein A highly-nutritious microbial protein ingredient for human food applications, produced using Calysta's patented fermentation platform. Offers the highest digestibility rating for protein ingredients and is naturally rich in branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), suitable for use in plant-based meat and other human food products.
Quantifiable outcome
- 20,000 tonnes production capacity operational in China, expanding to 80,000 tonnes
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Calysta
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Calysta technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Calysta partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.
- MarsapetcoreLaunched MicroBell complete dog food featuring FeedKind Pet protein - first complete dog food with FeedKind Pet. Partnership to bring sustainable pet food to European market.
- Dr. Clauder'scoreWorld's first dog treats launched featuring FeedKind Pet protein at Interzoo trade fair. Dr. Clauder's Trainee Snack cultivated protein air-dried treats for dogs.
- Food CaravanflagshipPartnership to build 100,000-tonne FeedKind production facility in Al Jubail, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Food Caravan provides local market access and regulatory support in KSA and MENA region. Supported by Saudi Ministry of Investment and National Industrial Development Centre.
- Adisseocore50/50 joint venture Calysseo established to commercialize FeedKind for Asian aquaculture market. Adisseo provides global distribution network and capital. JV building world's first commercial FeedKind production facility in Chongqing, China with 20,000 tonnes initial capacity, expanding to 80,000 tonnes.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Calysta competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Novonesis (formerly Novozymes): Global leader in industrial enzymes and microbial fermentation with extensive food and feed ingredient portfolio. Adjacent incumbent leveraging similar fermentation platforms at much greater scale.
- Adisseo: Global animal-feed additive company (methionine specialist) and Calysta's 50/50 JV partner in Calysseo. Critical channel partner whose global distribution network underwrites Calysta's commercial reach in aquaculture feed.
- Cargill: One of the world's largest agricultural commodity and animal-nutrition companies; an existing Calysta investor. Represents the established incumbent channel that Calysta's FeedKind must displace or partner with in feed markets.
Direct peers
- InnovaFeed: Produces insect-based protein (Hermetia illucens) for aquaculture feed and pet food. Competes with Calysta's FeedKind for the same aquaculture and pet-food ingredient customer base on sustainability grounds.
- Quorn Foods: Produces mycoprotein (single-cell/microbial protein) via large-scale fermentation for food and (historically) feed applications. Closest analog to Calysta on fermentation-derived protein at industrial scale, though Quorn uses a different organism and target end-markets.
- Air Protein: US-based company using gas fermentation (hydrogenotrophs) to produce single-cell protein for human food. Directly comparable to Calysta on the core gas-fermentation platform and 'land-free protein' value proposition.
- String Bio: India-based gas fermentation company converting methane to single-cell protein for feed. Uses the same methanotrophic fermentation approach as Calysta and targets aquaculture and animal feed end-markets.
- Protix: Dutch insect-protein producer supplying aquaculture and pet-food ingredients. Competes with FeedKind in alternative protein for feed applications, particularly in the European market where both have regulatory traction.
Emerging players
- Arbiom: US-based company developing fermentation-derived protein (SylPro) from wood-derived sugars for aquaculture and pet food. Comparable alternative-protein-for-feed business using a different fermentation feedstock.
- Deep Branch Biotechnology: UK-based gas-fermentation startup producing single-cell protein for aquaculture feed from industrial CO2 emissions. Emerging competitor with overlapping technology and target market but earlier stage.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Calysta social profiles
Digital presenceCalysta compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
Calysta financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Calysta leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
Calysta subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Calysta funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds12 records
Investors13 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Calysta M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Calysta
What does Calysta do?
Calysta produces and sells a family of single-cell protein ingredients (the FeedKind brand) manufactured via a patented gas fermentation platform that uses naturally-occurring methanotrophic microorganisms to convert methane/natural gas into high-quality, non-GMO protein. Products are sold as B2B ingredients to aquaculture, pet food, livestock feed, and human food manufacturers, with industrial-scale production operated through the Calysseo joint venture with Adisseo in China.
Is Calysta a public or private company?
Calysta is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Calysta founded?
Calysta was founded in 2012. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Calysta based?
Calysta is headquartered in San Mateo, United States, in the North America region.
How does Calysta make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. FeedKind Protein Ingredients Sales are the primary driver. The others are joint Venture Production (Calysseo).
Who are Calysta's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Novonesis (formerly Novozymes), Adisseo and Cargill. Direct peers are InnovaFeed, Quorn Foods, Air Protein, String Bio and Protix. Emerging players are Arbiom and Deep Branch Biotechnology.
Does Calysta have an API?
No public API is recorded for Calysta.
What industry is Calysta in?
Calysta's product category is Single-cell protein ingredients. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAJAHAH, Fermentation-Derived Proteins (Precision Fermentation, Biomass Fermentation), with a secondary code of AFAKAGAH, Fermentation-Derived Alternative Proteins Manufacturing (Precision Fermentation). Its NAICS code is 31111 and its SIC code is 2000.