As a partner in the ICO₂NIC consortium, b.fab is bridging the gap between electrochemistry and biotechnology to transform captured CO₂ into high-quality feed protein.
Based in Cologne and spun off from the former Bar-Even Lab at Max Planck Institute (MPIMP), b.fab specialises in “Formate Bioeconomy”, a platform process where CO₂ is first converted into liquid formic acid (formate) and then used as a sustainable feedstock for biomanufacturing.
By utilising an agile development environment and high-throughput experimentation, b.fab supports the project’s bioprocess goals:
Synthetic Biology: Applying the synthetic rGlyP metabolic pathway to enable microorganisms to metabolise formate efficiently.
Pathways to Scale: Developing the production strains and fermentation protocols required to produce sustainable proteins for the feed industry.
Collaborative Integration: Working with Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant (BBEPP) for technology transfer and scale-up, and coordinating aquaculture feeding trials with service providers to evaluate the final product’s performance.
Technical Agility: Using laboratory automation to optimise bioprocesses within a minimal time frame, helping the consortium move quickly from lab to trial.
Through this work, b.fab helps ICO₂NIC demonstrate practical, bio-based pathways for reducing carbon reliance in the global food chain.
Discover more about b.fab here.
Explore the full ICO₂NIC consortium here.