Sustainability, reuse, carbon capture, methane reduction, deforestation – terms that have become part of our everyday lexicon as we collectively grapple with a changing climate and seek mechanisms for a growing list of issues, including global warming, drought, species loss, habitat loss, diminishing natural resources, economic disparity, and food scarcity. 

In the search for solutions, a fair amount of attention has been given to food production. What technology has wrought, biotechnology can fix – at least that’s the promise. However, it remains to be seen how this trajectory will play out long term. Will biotechnology feed the world or provide security only for those with the financial means and privilege to afford these high-tech solutions?

Enter Circe Bioscience (Circe). Circe was spun out of the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering (Wyss Institute) at Harvard University in 2021. The company is located in the Boston area and promotes itself as a carbon-negative manufacturing company. Taking its name from a Greek mythological sorcerer, Circe subscribes to ephemeralization, the R. Buckminster Fuller-coined term regarding the ability of technology to do “more and more with less and less until eventually you can do everything with nothing.”

According to Circe’s website, the company is using carbon dioxide, water, and electricity to create a range of consumer products, beginning with triglycerides, which are used to create fats and oils. This initial focus was selected based on the ubiquity of these products as well as the global percentage of emissions and negative impacts associated with traditional sources of these ingredients in animals and plants (e.g., methane gas production, deforestation). 

Not included on Circe’s website is the fact that this wizardry is made possible through the use of microbes that have been genetically engineered to feed on greenhouse gases. The technology was developed at the Wyss Institute by Shannon Nangle (Circe co-founder and CEO) and Marika Ziesack (Wyss Senior Scientist and Circe CTO) in the lab of Pamela Silver, a well-known Harvard synthetic biologist. Circe is using the technology via a licensing agreement with Wyss Institute.

In 2022, Circe was awarded $2.9 million from the US Department of Energy’s ARPA-E ECOSynBio Program for raising carbon efficiency. Earlier this year, the company received a DARPA research grant valued at $250,000. 

In May, as part of a proof-of-concept demonstration, Circe created synbio cocoa butter, which was used to make chocolate in what was touted as “the world’s first gas-fermentation-based chocolate.” Ultimately, Circe anticipates creating a range of synbio products and ingredients for food, body care, cosmetics, and other consumer goods, as well as fuel, all of which will feed on carbon. Recently, in September, Circe announced a successful $5 million seed funding round and the development of a pilot plant in Waltham, Massachusetts.

This being said, Circe is not the only company focusing on the creation of products from carbon. Other developers are briefly highlighted below.

Deep Branch Biotechnology/Aerbio

Deep Branch Biotechnology (Deep Branch) was spun out of the Synthetic Biology Research Center (SBRC) Nottingham in Great Britain and focused on creating protein for food and animal feed from carbon using a proprietary platform. Earlier this year, Deep Branch, including its R(evolve) technology platform, was acquired by Aerbio. The company’s protein is branded as Proton. Recently, Aerbio announced the acquisition of a pilot facility in Limburg, the Netherlands.

LanzaTech 

LanzaTech is “recycling carbon with biology.” Headquartered in Illinois with offices around the world, LanzaTech uses synbio microbes to produce fuels, chemicals, and other materials. In October, the company announced that it was expanding its capabilities to produce commercial scale nutritional protein as a primary product. 

NovoNutrients

NovoNutrients is using an engineered microbe to convert carbon dioxide into protein for both food and animal feed.  The company claims that its product has a protein quality comparable to that of beef and is superior to plant-based alternatives. The company recently announced that it is planning to establish a pilot plant in the San Francisco Bay area.

The Non-GMO Project’s Standard defines all crops and products developed using biotechnology, including new gene-editing techniques, as GMOs. We share this information to further one of the Project’s primary goals of creating greater transparency in the supply chain, ensuring you have the information you need to make the best choices for you, your brand, and your family. 

Please note that the information herein is for general informational purposes only and is based on the linked sources above.

The Non-GMO Project is a 510c3 nonprofit dedicated to protecting and promoting non-GMO alternatives. New GMO Alerts is supported by funding from readers like you. Donate today.