Microalgae protein company, Brevel, has opened its first commercial plant, aimed at producing microalgae protein powder to serve the alternative protein space.
In 2023, the company netted over $28 million in seed funding, led by NevaTeam Partners and supported by the European Union’s EIC Fund, to fund this project. Brevel’s new facility is located in the desert periphery of Israel, occupying 2500 square metres. It is expected to begin rolling out products by early 2025.
From its new facility, Brevel can produce protein extracted from microalgae belonging to the chlorella family. The resulting ingredient is nutritious, possessing the full amino-acid profile, and cost-effective. It has a neutral flavour and colour and leaves a negligible environmental footprint.
Brevel cultivates its microalgae in indoor bioreactors through sugar fermentation. Brevel’s co-founder and CEO said that although combining light and fermentation to produce microalgae seemed straightforward, it was an extremely complex process.
“Until now, fermentation has been confined to dark environments and is instrumental in producing extremely high yields.
“However, microalgae’s natural makeup of nutrients – including protein, lipids, fibre, and pigments – depend on photosynthesis for their development and growth.”
The company’s breakthrough resulted in a steady supply of a white powdered 60-70% microalgae protein concentrate. As part of its waste-free manufacturing process, Brevel also uses all of the algae’s valuable components, making oil and fibre byproducts available as clean-label emulsifiers and a source of food enrichment for functional foods and food supplements.
Brevel will supply its protein to plant-based food formulators and food manufacturers worldwide, with an initial focus on alternative dairy products.
“We have strategized several joint-venture partnerships in the US, Europe, and Asia. The result will be construction of larger facilities to fulfill growing demands for our sustainable protein in multiple applications,” said Golan.
In 2022, Brevel partnered with plant-based food developer, Vgarden, to produce microalgae based food products, such as cheese. These are distributed in Australia through distributor Cale & Daughters.
