Brevel commissions new plant to supply microalgae protein

Microalgae protein company Brevel has opened its first commercial plant to serve the flourishing global alternative protein space.

The new facility covers 27,000 square feet [2,500 square meters] and has the capacity to produce hundreds of tonnes of microalgae protein powder This protein is also clean, non-GMO, and planet friendly.

The new site located in the desert periphery of Israel facilitates the introduction of Brevel’s new plant protein to the commercial food market by bringing production up to industrial levels.

From the new facility, Brevel can provide a fresh source of protein extracted from the uniquely grown microalgae belonging to the chlorella family. The resulting ingredient is highly nutritious possessing the full amino-acid profile and highly cost-effective. It has a neutral flavour and colour and leaves a negligible environmental footprint. The company expects the new facility to start rolling its first products by the first quarter of 2025.

Brevel cultivates its microalgae in indoor bioreactors via the fermentation of sugars. Unique to its technology is the simultaneous application of light and fermentation. This enables the generation of nutrient-rich microalgae in abundant yields, without any form of gene modification.

“Combining light and fermentation to produce microalgae is like putting an electric motor into a Tesla car,” explains Yonatan Golan, Brevel’s co-founder and CEO. “It may sound like a very simple straightforward task to achieve but is actually extremely complex. This was the challenge we managed to crack and lies at the core of our technology. Until now, fermentation has been confined to dark environments and is instrumental in producing the extremely high yields. However, microalgae’s natural makeup of nutrients — including protein, lipids, fibre, and pigments — depend on photosynthesis for their development and growth.”

Brevel’s breakthrough in uniting fermentation and light into a single process results in a steady supply of a white powdered 60-70% microalgae protein concentrate. Its robust functional qualities allow for seamless applications into a full range of meat and dairy alternatives. Brevel will focus first on alternative dairy products. “Our versatile solutions can boost protein content in dairy alternative while mimicking the same sensory experience, added Golan. “We have strategised several joint-venture partnerships in the US, Europe, and Asia. The result will be construction of larger facilities to fulfil growing demands for our sustainable protein in multiple applications.”

As part of its waste-free manufacturing process, Brevel valorises all of the algae’s valuable components, making the oil and fibre by-products available as clean-label emulsifiers and a source of food enrichment for functional foods and food supplements.

At an inauguration event, which welcomed more than 150 attendees including investors, food-tech start-ups, government representatives and food manufacturers, Brevel gave tours of the new state-of-the-art facility which houses advanced bioproduction labs, spacious working environments, a modern food application lab, and the latest in quality control equipment.

The visitors enjoyed tastings of a variety of protein rich plant-based cheese analogous demonstrating Brevel’s ability to provide nutritional value without compromising flavour or appearance. “This new facility is just the beginning for Brevel,” states Ido Golan, CTO and co-founder of Brevel. “We will make a vital contribution to building a secure, resilient food value chain that will nourish future generations with a new supply line of affordable yet highly nutritious protein.”

Brevel will supply its protein to plant-based food formulators and food manufacturers worldwide, some of whom are strategic partners and investors in the company. The extracted microalgae protein is highly nutritious, has sensory appeal, and shares the same price bracket as soy and pea proteins.

Last year the company netted nearly $19m in seed funding. The round, led by NevaTeam Partners and supported by the European Union’s EIC Fund, enabled this current phase of commercial-scale production and global outreach.

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