KnipBio

KnipBio, founded in 2013, is a biotechnology company specializing in the development of single-cell protein technologies for aquaculture, animal feeds, and human applications. The company's core product, KnipBio Meal (KBM), is a high-quality feed protein derived from methanol through industrial fermentation of the microorganism Methylorubrum extorquens. KBM is designed to be a sustainable alternative to traditional protein sources like fishmeal and soybean meal in aquaculture feeds. The product offers a complete amino acid profile along with vitamins, inorganic salts, fats, and carbohydrates, positioning it as a viable partial replacement for fishmeal, soybeans, meat, and skimmed milk powder in various applications.

KnipBio's fermentation process is highly efficient, producing a protein-rich biomass with a high dry cell weight of 120 g/liter and a crude protein content of 67.2%. The company claims its method is a thousand times more efficient than traditional farming practices. KBM has gained regulatory approvals in multiple markets, including FDA GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) designation for finfish and shrimp feeds in the US in 2019, and approval from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) for use in salmonid feeds up to 10% of the total diet in June 2022.

In addition to its nutritional benefits, KBM is being explored for its potential to reduce off-flavors in recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS), a common issue in fish farming. The company has been conducting trials with RAS facilities to determine if a diet containing five percent of their single-cell protein product can lower levels of geosmin (GSM) and 2-methylisoborneol (MIB), compounds responsible for off-flavors in farmed fish. Initial results have shown significant reductions in off-flavor in RAS-raised trout.

In July 2024, Larry Feinberg, the CEO and founder of KnipBio, stepped down from his position. Caitlin Wege, who had recently joined the company, was appointed as the new CEO to lead KnipBio's future endeavors.