MicroHarvest taps into a new source of protein through fermentation
One of the sectors in which Hamburg plays a leading role is FoodTech. The production of alternatives to animal proteins is one of the most important areas within this field. The startup MicroHarvest is doing pioneering work here. It has already achieved significant success in the pet food sector, and its own production facility is set to further accelerate its growth.
An international founding team
MicroHarvest’s origins lie in the Netherlands, where Katelijne Bekers studied biotechnology at Wageningen University and graduated with a master’s degree. Luísa Cruz, from Portugal, has a similar background, having completed her biotechnology studies in Delft and gone on to earn a PhD. The two fermentation experts first met at the Dutch company Corbion, which specialises in biochemical products. Whilst Luísa worked there for nine years, Katelijne stayed for just ten months and, after a brief stint in Belgium, joined Ohly in Hamburg, a leading company in yeast products.
The third member of the founding trio, Jonathan Robertz, studied production engineering in Aachen and founded his first startup there. Apodius developed measurement solutions for fibre-reinforced composites and did so with great success; in 2016, it was acquired by the information technology provider Hexagon. Jonathan continued to work there in a senior role until 2021, during which time he built up a wide network of contacts in the automotive industry. One issue that constantly occupied his mind was the reduction of CO2 emissions. Over time, he felt a growing desire to start a new business and find a solution to this challenge.
A millennia-old process brought up to date
The food production sector offers excellent opportunities in this regard. Livestock farming, in particular, is one of the biggest sources of greenhouse gases, but conventional plant-based agriculture also contributes to this. Katelijne had developed a process that enables the production of large quantities of protein through fermentation and was just waiting to be transferred from the laboratory to the commercial sector. Inspired and encouraged by the team of the startup Infinite Roots, which produces meat alternatives from fungal mycelium, she took the plunge into self-employment in 2021 and founded MicroHarvest. She was able to bring on board her former colleague Luísa as a co-founder, along with Jonathan, who found here the promising idea he had been searching for in vain within his own industry.
Investors, too, were quick to recognise the potential. As early as September 2022, MicroHarvest secured a funding round worth 8.5 million euros. It was led by Astanor Ventures from Brussels and Happiness Capital from Hong Kong, with Faber from Lisbon and FoodLabs from Berlin also participating. They all invested in a technology whose basic principles have been known for thousands of years. Fermentation – biotechnologically speaking, the conversion of organic matter into acid, gases or alcohol – is used in the production of sauerkraut, cheese and yoghurt, as well as in the brewing of beer, to name just a few examples.
Expansion into Portugal and Saxony-Anhalt
What makes MicroHarvest innovative is its use of special microorganisms that consist largely of protein. They are cultivated in tanks and fed with by-products, residues from the agricultural and food industries. The process takes place within 24 hours and, following further processing steps, yields high-quality protein powder as the end product. And all this with minimised land and water consumption compared to conventional agriculture. When it comes to greenhouse gas emissions, the startup even claims a reduction of up to 95%.
In its initial expansion efforts, the company remained true to its international focus. At the end of 2023, MicroHarvest opened a pilot plant in Lisbon, primarily to test the technology’s scalability. Basic biochemical research aimed at further improving protein quality and diversifying the product range continues to be carried out in Hamburg, as does the company’s management. This will not change when the new production plant in Leuna (Saxony-Anhalt) begins operations at the end of 2027 or, at the latest, in early 2028. Leuna has traditionally been one of the most important locations for the chemical industry in Germany.
MicroHarvest plans to produce 15,000 tonnes of protein per year
To date, MicroHarvest has been having five tonnes of protein produced per week via a contract manufacturer. With the future site, the startup is entering a whole new dimension; the plan is to produce 15,000 tonnes per year. This involves a completely new building, the cost of which is in the mid double-digit millions. ABN AMRO is on board as a financing partner, and a further round of funding is set to be finalised before the end of this year. A grant of just under 5.5 million euros from the federal government's energy and resource efficiency programme has already been received.
MicroHarvest had previously shortlisted around 40 locations across Europe for its expansion. The decision in favour of the Leuna Chemical Park was made due to the existing infrastructure there and its proximity to agricultural businesses, which are primarily expected to supply molasses from sugar production as a nutrient source for the microorganisms. There was also support from politicians, who hope that the creation of an initial 25 jobs will be just the beginning.
Pet food as a growth driver for MicroHarvest
Meanwhile, the European Novel Food Regulation is proving to be a brake on growth. It applies both to all foods that were not commonly available in Europe before 1997 and to manufacturing processes developed since then. MicroHarvest is affected in two ways and must undergo a time-consuming approval process, the end of which is not necessarily in sight. However, less stringent rules apply to pet food, which is why the startup has been on a growth trajectory in this market since 2024. VEGDOG kicked things off with vegan dog food, and cats are now also enjoying the benefits of the fermented protein.
Dog and cat snacks from various companies supplied by MicroHarvest are now available in over 1,800 retail outlets and many online shops across Germany. Demand is also growing in the UK. At least 15 further product launches with partners have been confirmed for the second quarter of 2026, including with Hey Bones, founded by animal health influencer Murat Colak, Vetura and aniAMA. There is also demand from aquaculture operators.
However, the primary goal remains tapping into the market for human consumption. Proteins are an essential component of a healthy diet. The food industry recognised this a while ago; new protein-enriched products are appearing in supermarkets almost on a daily basis. At the same time, there is a growing realisation that less climate-damaging production methods than before will be necessary to meet future protein needs. Once MicroHarvest has overcome all the bureaucratic hurdles, the Hamburg-based startup will be able to make an important contribution in this area.
