In Changshou Economic and Technological Development Zone on December 18^th, a groundbreaking ceremony was held for the production base of Calysseo (Chongqing) Co., Ltd., the world's first large-scale production project of FeedKind single-cell protein. The project was jointly funded by Bluestar Adisseo Company (SH: 600299), a global leader in animal nutrition feed additives, and Calysta, an innovative animal feed protein producer. In 2022, a sustainable alternative protein produced by a new means will be commercialized in China, the world's largest aquatic feed market. Guests from all sides gathered on the construction site to witness and celebrate the factory’s construction commencement.

As a safe, nutritious, traceable and economical protein source, FeedKind protein is produced through fermentation of natural gas and natural bacteria and helps to reduce the pressure on wild fishes. Its production does not occupy cultivated land and consumes very little water resources. Using 100,000 tons of FeedKind protein to replace fish meal can save about 420,000-450,000 tons of wild fish. Using the same amount of FeedKind protein to replace soybean can free up to 535 square kilometers of land and save nine billion liters of water. This project will be a sustainable protein production platform to improve the security of the aquatic feed raw material supply chain. In the first stage, a factory with an annual production capacity of 20,000 tons will be completed and put into production around 2022. In the second stage, the production capacity will be increased according to market demand. After completion, the FeedKind single-cell protein produced by this factory will be supplied to the Asian market, which represents over 70% of the world’s aquatic feed demand.

Hao Zhigang, Chairman of China National Bluestar (Group) Co., Ltd and Bluestar Adisseo Company, said: “In the special period of Covid-19 prevention and control this year, the FeedKind single-cell protein project successfully settled in Changshou District of Chongqing in only half a year, which fully demonstrates the efficiency of Chongqing municipal government and its strong support for enterprises. We are confident that the factory will be built into a demonstration project of the city’s chemical industry. When completed and put into production, it will quickly generate market benefits, improve the sustainability and security of the Asian feed raw material market, bring tangible value to consumers, and add a new chapter to the diversified and high-quality development of Adisseo in China.”

Adisseo CEO Jean-Marc Dublanc said: “The groundbreaking ceremony represents a milestone in bringing a disruptive technology to the market. This technology will generate benefits for aquaculture in Asia. We are honored to cooperate with Calysta to settle the world's first commercial-scale production base of FeedKind protein in China, and create more added value for aquatic feed producers through more accurate and advanced nutrition formula technology.”

Thomas JG Huot, chief operating officer of Calysta, said: "This factory is the crystallization of decades of technology development. I believe that the groundbreaking ceremony has great positive significance and marks the beginning of a new era of sustainable food production."