Prairie Aquatech

Prairie AquaTech, now known as Houdek, is a South Dakota-based company specializing in the development and production of fermented plant-based ingredients. Founded in 2011 by South Dakota Innovation Partners and South Dakota State University professors, the company utilizes a proprietary fermentation process to upcycle agricultural processing by-products such as soybean meal and dried distillers' grain into high-quality protein ingredients for various industries. Houdek's flagship product, ME-PRO, is a plant-based protein for aquafeeds, containing over 70% protein with reduced anti-nutritive compounds and increased bioavailability of phosphorus. The company's manufacturing facility in Volga, South Dakota, has an annual production capacity of 30,000 tonnes of ME-PRO, with the potential to expand to 60,000 tonnes. Houdek's technology allows feed manufacturers to reduce the need for less functional and sustainable ingredients, with ME-PRO typically included at 5-15% in feed formulations, although it can technically replace 100% of fishmeal. In October 2022, Houdek achieved SQF Institute certification, enabling the launch of Protéger, a fermented plant-based protein ingredient for the pet food industry. This certification made Houdek South Dakota's first SQF pet food ingredient manufacturing facility. The company's expansion into pet nutrition and human health markets led to its rebranding from Prairie AquaTech to Houdek in January 2023, reflecting its broader impact and vision for solving global challenges in food and environmental security.

Key customers and partnerships

Houdek works with some of the world's top animal nutritionists to conduct feed trials and further understand the nutritional requirements of both production and companion animals. The company has established a Certified Grower's Network, comprising a select group of farmers within a two-hour radius of their biorefinery in Volga, South Dakota. These farms are committed to sustainable agronomic practices, including no-till land management, no harmful pesticides, and non-GMO seeds. Houdek's ME-PRO product has been incorporated into fish and shrimp diets worldwide, with the majority of production going into feed for salmonids. Other species utilizing ME-PRO include shrimp, sea bass, and weaned pigs. The company also operates an aquaculture accelerator program at its AgTech Center, designed to help early-stage entrepreneurs and academic innovators bring their products and innovations to market.