From fish waste to yeast

The project MarineIB is led by the Centre for Process Innovation (CPI), in partnership with Norwegian processor Marine Bioproducts (MB).

The peptones used in the study are taken from sustainable marine aquaculture that is a co-product of the Norwegian salmon processing industry. MB peptone is manufactured via a patented enzymatic hydrolysis method, which is claimed to be a cleaner, more efficient alternative to acid hydrolysis.

Through continuous enzymatic hydrolysis, water and enzymes are added to fish raw material to solubilise proteins, release the oil and enable the removal of the bones.

MB established a commercial operation based on the sale of pet and livestock feed at the lower end of value chain, but now seeks to develop a marine peptone for the fermentation market at the higher end. The study will glean data to support the case for MB's peptone to be a viable microbiological media component.

CPI has shown this peptone can be used to grow industrial biotech organisms, and is particularly good for yeasts. It can also grow a bacterium for the expression of a natural enzyme. It will soon launch the project's cloning stage.

This project also aims to realise an integrated marine bio-refinery between Norway and the UK, which will seek to maximise value from sustainable marine resources. Norwegian consortium partners are currently engaged with the UK's seafood processing industry in Grimsby.