Deep Branch has appointed Anders Clausen as its new chief innovation officer.
He will oversee the company’s technical leadership team in setting and executing its R&D strategy, as well as setting up of external R&D collaborations for the business, while also looking to ensure it holds robust IP for its technology platform and products.
Founded in 2018, Deep Branch currently has around 30 staff based in the UK and the Netherlands. The biotech creates food and feed ingredients to support a more sustainable food system. Its proprietary technology uses CO2 and hydrogen as clean and renewable carbon and energy sources to deliver next-generation bio-based products.
Deep Branch works with feed producers in industries such as aquaculture and partners with upstream companies such as CO2 suppliers to deploy its technology.
Clausen has vast experience in bioprocess technology development and application development for microbes in food. He joins the UK firm after founding Productus, a business dedicated to providing guidance on research and development strategy and production process development within bioscience.
Prior to this, Clausen spent over a decade with cultures and probiotics producer, Chr. Hansen, primarily focusing on developing new products and production platform technologies for stabilizing lactic acid bacteria as starter cultures and probiotics.
He has extensive knowledge in developing and implementing fermentation and downstream processes for microorganisms through rapid up and downscaling, said Deep Branch. He is also experienced in managing innovation and technology development through collaboration between the private sector and academia.
Commenting on the new role, Clausen said:
“The microbial protein sector is still in its infancy. However, it’s clear that Deep Branch will play a crucial role in shaping its maturity. We’re ideally placed to define the opportunities for single-cell protein globally and unlock the potential of gas fermentation by solving the remaining technical and engineering challenges. Joining Deep Branch on this journey is incredibly exciting given the scientific and commercial opportunities it represents.”
Deep Branch’s CEO Pete Rowe added:
“Commercializing any technology is about more than good ideas - it requires strong execution. This is crucial in biotechnology because our development cycles are so long compared to other industries. Anders brings a wealth of experience in managing the commercialization of new bioprocesses through their full innovation lifecycle. Coming from Chr. Hansen, he knows that innovation must consider all key stakeholders, and it's clear that he works hard to ensure commitment from all parties to get to a win-win situation. Anders will be integral in bringing our (R)evolve gas fermentation platform to full maturity, ensuring we can commercialize products quickly, efficiently and with the ability to meet genuine market demand.”
Protix says former CEO of EWOS and president of Cargill Aqua Nutrition, Einar Wathne, and Dutch strategic advisor, Bert Pauli, are joining its board.
The Dutch insect ingredients producer said these “highly regarded” specialists will bring their valuable input and insights to help it in the next stage of its journey. Wathne will bring his unparalleled expertise in aquaculture to the table, while Pauli will help to oversee regulatory matters and complex stakeholder management, said Protix.
Kees Aarts, CEO and founder of Protix, said: “With these two seasoned leaders and experts, we will be able to roll out our plans even better and faster.”
Wathne [in picture], the former CEO of EWOS and president of Cargill Aqua Nutrition, is a long-time leader in the aquaculture industry. He is currently an assistant professor in the Faculty of Biosciences at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) and also sits on the board of directors of salmon farmer Bakkafrost, growth companies like Blue Lice AS, and C-feed AS and is chairman of NCE Seafood Cluster AS and Nutrimar Holding AS.
Commenting on the advisory role, he said: “The farming expertise, and the technological and commercial nature of Protix are unique in the world and will be a critical success factor in bringing this new category of nutrition to the aquaculture industry. I look forward to helping to drive their long-term impact in this exciting industry.”
Protix said it worked with regulatory expert, Pauli, between 2013 and 2019, and that alliance generated “major successes” in terms of deregulating the insect-based nutrition industry.
Pauli, said Protix, will support the company’s development mainly in the areas of complex stakeholder management, international regulatory affairs, and national and municipal interests.
“Creating an industry is no easy task. It demands innovation on all aspects: from biology to technology to regulation. Protix has proven its ability to drive multi-stakeholder dialogue through its transparent and motivating agenda and vision. I look forward to continuing to support them in the scale-up phase,” said the advisor.
Alternative protein producer, Calysta, has appointed Herman Sloot as its new VP of commercial development to target opportunities in the pet and human food sectors.
Sloot has spent the last eight years with collagen protein player, Gelita, where he was most recently the global VP of fats, proteins, and minerals. He also worked with Dupont Nutrition and Health, formerly Danisco, for 10 years.
He will officially take up his new position on September 1.
Based in Germany, the company said that his primary focus will be on the European market, where Calysta’s proteins are approved for use in pet food applications.
Calysta is developing feed ingredients for fish, livestock, pets, and human food, produced by fermenting low cost, land free carbon sources with a naturally occurring bacteria. It is currently putting the finishing touches to the Calysseo JV it is building in China with 50/50 partner Adisseo. Coming online at the end of the year, the first phase of that plant will produce 20,000 tons of protein per year.
Skretting says it is revamping the structure of its Closed Aquaculture Systems (CAS) operations around innovation and commercial functions.
Such a restructuring will help it "drive innovation, capture new market opportunities and enable us to deliver on our already signed agreements in the segment,” said the fish feed producer.
In that regard, it has named Sissel Susort as global marketing manager for CAS along with three new commercial leads: Gaston Lopez (North America), Truls Dahl (Europe) and Arjen Roem (Asia).
“The regional commercial leads and marketing manager will form a global team for CAS and will together, with NuFrontiers, meet frequently to stay updated across regions, coordinated by Skretting’s commercial director, Evy Vikene.
“Our ambition is to have minimum 50% share of the CAS segment, and we are well ahead of this plan.”
Bent Nissen will head up the DLG group's German agricultural company, HaGe. He takes over the job from Henrik Madsen, who has decided to leave the company for personal reasons.
Nissen is a civil economist with a background in accounting and financial management. He started as a trainee in DLG's seed department in 1990, and during his 32 years in the group, he quickly advanced to deputy director and later to deputy group director. In 2017, he was appointed group director with responsibility for all the group's activities within plant breeding, i.e. seeds, plant protection, fertilizers and plant breeding.
"During our many years of collaboration, I have seen time and time again how Bent, with his strategic sense and strong business understanding, has set direction and created results.
“At the same time, he is a well-liked and respected leader who manages to get an organization to work together towards a common goal. Therefore, Bent is the right person to strengthen HaGe's business and take it to the next level," says Kristian Hundebøll, CEO of the DLG group.
HaGe is one of the largest agricultural companies in Germany with a revenue of €2.2bn in 2020 and about 1,400 employees. It sells agricultural products directly to and, in wholesale, HaGe serves the entire German market with fertilizers, plant protection products and seeds. It sold a total of 4.7m tons of grain and rapeseed in 2020 and delivers to the processing industry in Germany and Europe as well as to wider markets via its own port facilities in Hamburg, Rostock and Kiel.
