Unibio
EMEA
Roskilde
,
Denmark
Scaleup
FOUNDED
2001
HEADCOUNT
101-500
FUNDING
Series D+
Keywords:
gas_fermentation, bacteria, bioreactor_design, continuous_bioprocessing, single_cell_protein, food_protein, alternative_proteins, aquaculture
BUSINESS
Unibio produces Uniprotein, a non-GMO single-cell protein from methanotrophic bacteria using its patented U-Loop vertical bioreactor, a continuous gas fermentation system designed for efficient methane-to-liquid mass transfer. Uniprotein is approved as animal feed in the EU (all species) and for aquaculture in Saudi Arabia, with global registrations in progress. The company received a $70 million investment from Saudi Industrial Investment Group (SIIG) in 2023, and in March 2026 announced an 80:20 JV (SIIG/Unibio) called BIO PROTEIN Company to build the world's largest single-cell protein plant in Al Jubail, Saudi Arabia, with initial capacity of 50,000 tonnes/year and plans to scale beyond 300,000 tonnes.
BIOTECH INVOLVEMENT
Biotech is central to the business. Unibio grows non-GMO methanotrophic bacteria in a continuous fermentation process using methane as the sole carbon and energy source. The patented U-Loop bioreactor design uses 35-meter-high vertical loops to maximize gas-liquid transfer efficiency, addressing the core engineering challenge of gas fermentation. The whole biomass is harvested, centrifuged, and dried to produce a protein product with an amino acid profile comparable to fishmeal. The company operates a licensing model, providing its bioreactor technology, process design, and operational know-how to JV partners.
TECHNOLOGY PLATFORM
gas fermentation; methanotrophic bacteria; vertical loop bioreactor
PRIMARY PRODUCTS
Uniprotein microbial protein