BRIGHT at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) joins Novonesis to engineer microbes that convert waste CO₂ into nutritious and sustainable protein at industrial scale.
Launched in 2023 with funding from the Gates Foundation and the Novo Nordisk Foundation, The Acetate Consortium brings together Novonesis, Topsoe, and leading academic and industrial partners to address one of the most pressing challenges in climate solutions: transforming waste CO₂ into valuable food ingredients while reducing dependence on farmland and resource-intensive agriculture.
BRIGHT at DTU will collaborate with Novonesis to advance microbial production on acetate- a key bottleneck in the CO₂-to-protein conversion process. The challenge is significant: while microbes naturally thrive on glucose derived from farmed crops, most struggle to efficiently utilize acetic acid produced from captured carbon.
Evolving microbes for a carbon-neutral future
Through the world-class BRIGHT Biofoundry at DTU, researchers will apply evolutionary engineering techniques to optimize yeast strains for acetate-based fermentation, focusing on increasing microbial tolerance to acetate, accelerating acetate consumption rates, boosting protein production yields, and reducing fermentation time and costs.
"This is where evolution becomes a design tool," explains Professor Adam Feist, who is leading the collaboration from BRIGHT.
"We are not just asking whether microbes can grow on low-carbon inputs. We are evolving them to do it faster, more efficiently, and in ways that actually make industrial sense."
The research leverages BRIGHT's high-throughput automated evolution platform, enabling rapid, systematic strain improvement at a scale that would otherwise require years of traditional laboratory work.
A blueprint for circular bioeconomy
The collaboration represents a convergence of complementary expertise. Novonesis contributes decades of experience in designing and optimizing production strains, while BRIGHT brings leading capabilities in microbial evolution and high-throughput strain development.
"We're very excited that BRIGHT will now join forces with us to help turn captured CO₂ into a nutritious protein source," says Claus Crone Fuglsang, Chief Scientific Officer at Novonesis.
"Together, we aim to develop yeasts and fungi that grow faster, tolerate acetate more effectively, and deliver higher protein yields. This partnership moves us closer to a future where CO₂-based proteins play a role in more sustainable food production."
"This collaboration shows what it takes to make impact," notes Professor Jochen Förster, Director of the BRIGHT Biofoundry. "Aligned partners, complementary expertise, and the courage to work through complexity together. We look forward to continuing the work and strengthening the collaboration in the years ahead."
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About BRIGHT
The Novo Nordisk Foundation Biotechnology Research Institute for the Green Transition (BRIGHT) is a science innovation hub based at DTU which is ranked among the top 5 universities globally for biotechnology. Designed to accelerate the bioeconomy, BRIGHT unites researchers, educators, and industry under one mission to develop real-world solutions for a sustainable living.
BRIGHT focuses on three key research missions: sustainable materials, microbial foods, and microorganisms for net-zero agriculture. Working across the entire value chain with industry partners, BRIGHT develops scalable alternatives to fossil-based products while training the next generation of biotech engineers and researchers. Through open collaboration and excellent innovation, BRIGHT creates pathways to a sustainable and economically viable future for Europe and beyond.
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About Novonesis
Novonesis is leading the era of biosolutions. By leveraging the power of microbiology with science, we transform the way the world produces, consumes and lives. In more than 30 industries, our biosolutions are already creating value for thousands of customers and benefiting the planet. Our 10,000 people worldwide work closely with our partners and customers to transform business with biology.
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About The Acetate Consortium
The Acetate Consortium unites international partners working to develop scalable, sustainable protein production from captured CO₂. Partners include Novonesis, Topsoe, Copenhagen Process ApS, Aarhus University (Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering), University of Copenhagen (Department of Food and Resource Economy and Department of Food Science), Northwestern University, Orkla A/S, Spora ApS, and The Novo Nordisk Foundation CO₂ Research Center (CORC).
The consortium is funded by the Gates Foundation and the Novo Nordisk Foundation.