REACT-FIRST: Reduced Emission Aquaculture & Chicken Trial For Integrated, Responsible and Sustainable Transformation of CO2 into animal feed

The world's population will reach 10 billion people by 2050\. By this point, the demand for animal-based products will have doubled, yet we currently struggle to feed the animals we eat in a sustainable fashion today.

Based on Deep Branch Biotechnology's proprietary CO2-to-protein process, the REACT-FIRST consortium will develop feeds with 65-75% smaller carbon footprints, with no requirements for arable land and minimal water usage. By utilising carbon dioxide from Drax Power's Selby (Yorkshire) biomass power station, Deep Branch generate Proton, a protein powder optimised for aquaculture and poultry diets. By working with BioMar and AB Agri, leading in feed production in these respective markets, the consortium will develop Proton-based feeds that will be validated by world-class research facilities at the University of Sterling's Institute of Aquaculture and Nottingham Trent University's Poultry Research Unit.

The project will be guided by the Scottish Aquaculture Innovation Centre and Sainsbury's, offering a full value chain network for aquaculture and poultry, ensuring outcomes are aligned with industry needs. The University of Nottingham's Synthetic Biology Research Centre will enable Deep Branch's process to be further optimised in a non-GMO fashion, whilst the University of Edinburgh's Innogen Institute will assess the full sustainability impact of the project and whilst ensuring responsible innovation.