Bioreactor — agriculture's own protein factory
Dapibuset is a company based both in Blentarp and at Biotech Heights in Lund. They are working on developing small bioreactors, which have the potential to increase the value of residual streams of crops through fermentation. In this way, farmers can use, for example, the part of the wheat they harvest that is not used for food to make their own forage feed for the animals directly on the farm. Through a process in the bioreactor using the wheat together with microorganisms, it is possible to produce a nutrient solution in less than a week.
- Many farmers grow wheat, which through fermentation can be upgraded directly on the farm, says Micael Simonsson at Dapibuset. In this way, it is possible to use up to 30% more of the wheat than if they sent it to the mill for processing into flour.
When working with wheat, a distinction is made between wheat used for human food and fodder wheat for animals. Feed wheat is the wheat that does not meet the requirements imposed on wheat for food but is instead used in animal feed. Dapibuset's bioreactors provide opportunities to produce for both animal feed and food, as long as the two streams are separated.
- We started working with feed but saw that there is also a great value in fermentation for the food industry, says Lidia Garcia Pou at Dapibuset. So we engaged a chef who brought out tasty products. Now we have two branches in our business and it will be a complete “from farm to fork”.
Dapibuset has in tests made crackers, vegetable steaks, pasta and falafel from the processed wheat, but Dapibuset will not themselves make products on a large scale. The idea is instead franchising or producing the vegetarian ingredients so that food companies can make products from them.
The type of reactors that Dapibuset is building is already used by large factories, but then on a much larger scale and is then an investment of a few hundred million SEK. Dapibuset's idea is to make bioreactors on a small scale so that the farmer can produce power feed on his own farm for a week at a time for a much lower amount.
- We make it cheaper by reducing the equipment and making a stripped-down solution that pays off in about three years by being able to produce your own power tool for the animals. But it is necessary to have a certain size of the farm, explains Micael Simonsson.
For fermentation to work, fresh microorganisms are required, which are supplied to farmers by Dapibuset. The process can also start from crops other than wheat - for example barley, potatoes and carrot.
- We have come the furthest with wheat but have done tests with several other crops using SLU. In the future, we can imagine that we are ready to work with more residual streams, continues Micael Simonsson.
In early summer 2025, a pilot plant will be started in Blentarp. But Dapibuset also has a place on Biotech Heights, where they can collaborate with researchers from the university.
- For us, it is important to sit with researchers who can help us with analyzes, says Lidia Garcia Pou. This is especially important because our idea is not only to use more of the wheat available, but also to improve the nutritional content of the wheat.
The increased protein content with the right amino acids is important because Dapibuset wants a local alternative that can compete with the soybean, which has a very good protein balance. Livestock farming worldwide is largely based on soybeans. Soy is grown primarily in South America and the United States, and Europe is highly dependent on importing. The soybean also has some sustainability challenges. One is that in some places only soybeans are grown, which can lead to the risk of soil depletion. Another is that valuable forest is being felled to create more land on which to farm.
- Wheat is basically a good food but it has limitations in the protein profile, says Micael Simonsson. When we upgrade the wheat through fermentation, more proteins are created, which are well absorbed by the human body, and the protein profile becomes very good.
The interest in the new technology has been high among farmers, but so far they are not yet ahead in testing the bioreactors on farms.
- In the near future we will have pilot tests at SLU. In late autumn we start with tests on two farmers. The first machine will be very simple for us to try out what the farmers want. The idea is that the process should be so straightforward that farmers basically just need to put down the wheat and press the button and a few days later have feed for their animals.
In addition to his work with Dapibuset, Micael Simonsson is also a new member of Future by Lund's Board of Directors.
- The network around Future by Lund is good for us and Future by Lund is part of Biotech Heights where we started the whole journey. For me, an important part is making sure that we become some companies working in biosolutions to generate attention. We need each other to change society and the way people think about fermentation.
Footnote: Dapibus comes from the Latin word for protein.
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