Aerbio

What Aerbio does

Aerbio A/S is a Danish biotech company that has developed a patented gas fermentation platform which replaces conventional sugar feedstock with carbon dioxide and hydrogen to produce single-cell protein marketed as Proton™. The fermentation uses hydrogen-oxidizing bacteria in bioreactors powered by green hydrogen from renewable energy, yielding a protein ingredient with greater than 85% crude protein content, a complete essential amino acid profile, and no antibiotics, pesticides, GMOs, or anti-nutritional factors. The same platform is being extended to produce polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) biodegradable plastics via the EU-funded UNICO2RN consortium. Proton is positioned for aquafeed (salmon and shrimp) and monogastric feed (piglets) as primary markets, with pet food and human food as secondary opportunities; trial data in salmon and shrimp has shown significantly improved feed conversion ratios compared with conventional protein mixes. Aerbio operates a pilot line at the Brightlands Chemelot Campus in Limburg, Netherlands (fully operational since August 2024) and is headquartered at DTU Risø Campus in Roskilde, Denmark.

Aerbio is pre-commercial and currently generates no product revenue. The company plans its first commercial production facility for 2027 and a full-scale commercial plant producing several hundred thousand tons of protein annually by 2030, claiming a single plant would replace roughly 100,000 hectares of soybean-equivalent output with 84% lower water footprint, 97% lower land use, and up to 90% lower carbon footprint versus soy or fishmeal. Go-to-market combines direct B2B engagement with global feed producers (validated by strong trial interest in aquafeed and pet food) and a strategic distribution agreement with Chr. Olesen Group, an international protein and ingredient distributor generating several billion DKK annually. The company has closed an oversubscribed multi-million Euro bridge loan in 2025 led by Chr. Olesen Group alongside an undisclosed international strategic partner providing know-how, patents, and personnel to accelerate scale-up, and is preparing for a stock exchange listing. A geographic pivot has relocated the planned first commercial facility from the Netherlands to Denmark.

Name

Aerbio

Legal name

Aerbio A/S

Website

https://aer.bio

Company type

Private

Founded year

2024

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Aerbio is a Danish biotech company using patented gas fermentation to convert CO2 and hydrogen into Proton™, a single-cell protein ingredient (>85% crude protein) targeting aquafeed, monogastric feed, pet food, and future food applications.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Alternative Protein Ingredients

NAICS

Animal Food Manufacturing (31111), Dog and Cat Food Manufacturing (311111)

SIC

Grain Mill Products (2040)

akta.pro primary industry

Fermentation-Derived Proteins (Precision Fermentation, Biomass Fermentation) (AFAJAHAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Specialty & Novel Proteins (Single-Cell Protein, Cell-Cultured/Animal-Free Proteins) (AFAJAHAL), Fermentation-Derived Alternative Proteins Manufacturing (Precision Fermentation) (AFAKAGAH), Alternative Protein & Sustainable Pet Food (insect/plant/cell-based) (CRADAFAI)

Keywords

• Gas fermentation protein
• Single-cell protein
• Alternative protein ingredients
• Carbon capture biotechnology
• Sustainable aquafeed

Headquarters

HQ city

Roskilde

HQ country

Denmark

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Personnel, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Proton Protein Sales: Aerbio generates revenue by producing and selling Proton, a high-quality protein ingredient, to animal feed, pet food, and food manufacturers. The company operates test facilities demonstrating operational reliability for over a year, with commercial production facilities planned for 2027 (first facility) and 2030 (full-scale commercial plant producing several hundred thousand tons annually).

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Aerbio manufactures and sells Proton™, a sustainable single-cell protein ingredient produced via proprietary gas fermentation that uses carbon dioxide (CO2) and hydrogen as feedstocks instead of sugar. The resulting biomass contains greater than 85% crude protein with a complete essential amino acid profile, is free from antibiotics, pesticides, and is non-GMO, and is supplied as a high-quality ingredient for aquafeed, monogastric animal feed, pet food, and (future) human food applications.

Product overview

Aerbio operates as a single-product biotech company focused on producing Proton™, a high-quality protein ingredient manufactured through proprietary gas fermentation technology. The process converts CO2 and hydrogen into protein-rich biomass without sugar inputs. Proton™ is offered as a versatile ingredient targeting multiple markets including aquafeed (fish and shrimp), monogastric feed (piglets), pet food, and human food applications. The company is scaling from pilot operations at Brightlands Chemelot Campus in the Netherlands toward commercial production facilities planned for 2027.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Proton™: High-quality protein ingredient produced via gas fermentation using CO2 and hydrogen, with >85% crude protein content for animal feed, pet food, and food applications.

Products and services

• Proton™ Proton™ is Aerbio's high-quality single-cell protein ingredient produced via patented gas fermentation using carbon dioxide and hydrogen instead of sugar. It contains greater than 85% crude protein with a complete essential amino acid profile, is free from antibiotics, pesticides, and is non-GMO, with no anti-nutritional factors and a neutral flavor and smell. It is sold to aquafeed manufacturers (salmon and shrimp), monogastric animal feed producers (piglet starter, poultry), pet food manufacturers, and (in the future) human food producers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 84% lower water footprint compared to soy protein
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• VITOcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2025VITO serves as the coordinator of the EU-funded UNICO2RN research project, bringing together European research and industrial partners to demonstrate technology converting biogenic CO2 into microbial proteins and bioplastics using metal-organic framework capture systems and aerobic gas fermentation.
• CO2BioCleanminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2025Consortium partner in the EU-funded UNICO2RN project focused on converting biogenic CO2 from industrial sources into polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) for biodegradable plastics and proteins.
• IdenerminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2025Research and development partner in the UNICO2RN consortium, contributing to the development of technology for CO2 capture and conversion into bioplastics and proteins.
• LesaffreminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2025Consortium partner in UNICO2RN, leveraging fermentation expertise to support the development of biogenic CO2 conversion into microbial proteins and bioplastics.
• NIZO Food ResearchminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2025Food research institute partner in UNICO2RN consortium providing expertise in food applications and safety assessments for protein products derived from CO2 fermentation.
• nova-InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2025Research partner in UNICO2RN contributing to life cycle and techno-economic analyses, and sustainability certification alignment for bio-based products.
• NuadaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2025Technology partner in UNICO2RN consortium developing carbon capture and conversion technologies using metal-organic framework systems.
• Sabio BiomaterialsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2025Consortium partner in UNICO2RN focused on developing biodegradable plastics from polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) produced via CO2 fermentation.
• VeoliaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2025Industrial partner in UNICO2RN providing access to biogenic CO2 from industrial sources and hosting demonstration sites for the conversion technology at two industrial locations.
• International Partner (unnamed)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Major strategic agreement with an international partner that will accelerate Aerbio's plans including stock exchange listing, providing access to valuable know-how, patents, and key personnel to enable rapid design and construction of demonstration and commercial-scale facilities.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Calysta: Producer of FeedKind, a single-cell microbial protein for aquafeed and pet food. Comparable as a fermentation-derived protein ingredient aimed at the same salmon and shrimp feed customers as Proton.
• Unibio: Danish producer of Uniprotein, a bacterial single-cell protein made via methane fermentation for animal feed (notably aquaculture). Same Danish origin, same protein-for-feed value proposition, and comparable fermentation-based manufacturing model.
• Deep Branch Biotechnology: UK-based gas fermentation company developing single-cell protein from CO2 and hydrogen for food and feed. Aerbio CTO Robert Mansfield was a former co-founder/CTO of Deep Branch, making it a direct technological and commercial peer.
• Air Protein: US-based company using gas fermentation to convert CO2 into single-cell protein for food applications. Closely comparable on core fermentation platform and carbon-to-protein positioning.
• Solar Foods: Finland-based company producing Solein, a single-cell protein made via gas fermentation from CO2, hydrogen and electricity. Most directly comparable to Aerbio on feedstock, technology platform and target end markets (food and feed).
• NovoNutrients: US-based gas fermentation company converting industrial CO2 emissions into single-cell protein for aquafeed and other applications. Directly comparable feedstock, technology and end-market focus.

Emerging players

• KnipBio: Single-cell protein developer focused on aquafeed applications using proprietary microbes. Targets the same salmon/shrimp feed customers as Proton, though on a different fermentation route (sugar-based vs Aerbio's gas fermentation).
• InnovaFeed: French producer of insect-based protein (from black soldier fly) for aquafeed and pet food. Competes with Aerbio for the same alternative-protein-in-feed thesis and aquafeed customer wallet, but on a fundamentally different production platform.

Broad incumbents

• Quorn: Established fungal fermentation-derived protein brand for human food. Less direct on feed, but highly comparable as a scaled fermentation-protein commercial business pursuing the same 'protein without agriculture' narrative.
• LanzaTech: Larger, well-capitalized gas fermentation company primarily producing fuels and chemicals from industrial CO2 emissions, with adjacent interest in protein. Shares Aerbio's core carbon capture + gas fermentation platform and partnership with Chr. Olesen-like industrial counterparties.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aerbio

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Aerbio