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Ocean Twist Biotechnology Tackles Sustainable Animal Feed Production
Ocean Twist Biotechnology, a Rome-based startup, has entered into a joint development agreement with ENI, the Italian energy company, to extract proteins from agricultural side streams, particularly those related to biofuel production in Africa. The company's mission is to reduce the global reliance on marine resources, which currently sees 25 million tons of fish being caught every year for animal feed.
Led by CEO Alessandro Romano, Ocean Twist Biotechnology is developing innovative biotech processes to convert insects, such as black soldier fly larvae, and agricultural byproducts into high-quality proteins and fibers. This approach reduces the need to harvest fish for animal feed, thereby fighting overfishing and promoting sustainability in the aquaculture and livestock feed sectors.
The challenge for Ocean Twist Biotechnology extends to making sure the process is scalable and cost-effective. Alessandro Romano emphasizes the importance of developing patented methods for extracting proteins from insects at a cost-effective rate. The company is seeking reliable partners who can provide side streams like hemp or pumpkin seed press cakes.
Ocean Twist Biotechnology's protein ingredients are geared toward swine, poultry, fish feed, and pet food markets, with particular expertise in fish feed. The company is also exploring other areas like fish feed to broaden its market application.
The future expansion plans of Ocean Twist Biotechnology include exploring opportunities in other European countries where regulations around sustainability and resource use are becoming stricter.
Alessandro Romano's interest in the environmental cost of marine resource extraction was sparked while working in Switzerland's ship finance sector. A 40-day sailing expedition on a cabinless catamaran, surviving only on fish he caught, revealed the depleted state of marine biodiversity.
The impact of Ocean Twist's technology includes reducing reliance on marine resources, supporting food security and sustainability, and contributing to a circular economy. The company's protein ingredients are designed to improve digestibility and palatability in animal feeds, without making the final product prohibitively expensive.
Insect proteins offer environmental advantages such as lower land, water use, and greenhouse gas emissions compared to traditional livestock, providing a promising sustainable protein alternative for feeding the growing global population. Ocean Twist’s innovative enzymatic and green chemistry biotechnology is aligned with global trends and offers a promising solution for the future of sustainable animal feed production.
[1] Ocean Twist Biotechnology. (n.d.). About Us. Retrieved from https://www.oceantwist.com/about-us [3] FAO. (2013). Edible insects: Future prospects for food and feed security. Retrieved from https://www.fao.org/3/a-i4676e.pdf
- Ocean Twist Biotechnology's mission in health-and-wellness encompasses reducing global reliance on marine resources for sustainable animal feed production, working in collaboration with ENI, an Italian energy company.
- Fitness-and-exercise took a different turn for Alessandro Romano when he embarked on a 40-day sailing expedition that revealed the depleted state of marine biodiversity, sparking his interest in environmental matters.
- The lifestyle implications of Ocean Twist Biotechnology's research are far-reaching, as they contribute to food security, sustainability, and a circular economy through the use of sustainable protein alternatives like insect proteins.
- In the environmental-science realm, insect proteins produced by Ocean Twist Biotechnology offer advantages such as lower land, water usage, and greenhouse gas emissions compared to traditional livestock proteins.
- The business aspects of Ocean Twist Biotechnology extend beyond Italy, as the company plans to explore opportunities in other European countries with stricter regulations on sustainability and resource use.
- Nutrition and food-and-drink industries stand to benefit from Ocean Twist Biotechnology's innovation, as their protein ingredients are designed to improve digestibility and palatability in animal feeds without increasing the final product's cost. Additionally, they are entering various markets such as fish feed, swine, poultry, and pet food sectors.
