08 - Turning CO2 into food. Interview with Arkeon Founder Gregor Tegl.

SustainNOW Podcast - Learn from entrepreneurs & scientists about climate solutions

After obtaining his PhD at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, Gregor continued his dedication to environmental biotechnology at the University of British Columbia Vancouver, Canada, researching enzymes for the sustainable production of complex macromolecules. His passion for food and sustainable eating ignited a 5+ year long journey of exploring microbes to produce next-generation nutrients and food ingredients. Gregor’s scientific expedition resulted in an entirely new method of producing alternative proteins using CO2 – without the need for any agricultural inputs, changing agriculture the way we know it.
We will talk about what amino acids are, why they are essential for our health and food system - and not only for bodybuilders. Why 3 scientists would like to produce them on Mars and what scale really means for producing green and carbon negative proteins for our food system.

In this episode we are addressing the following questions:

1. What led you to found Arkeon and maybe prior where is the name Arkeon coming from?
2. You are 3 scientists who co-founded Arkeon. What has been your aspiration to go from science into commercialization?
3. How are they produced currently? And why is that a problem for the environment?
4. How big is the problem you would like to solve?
5. Tell me more about the fermentation process to convert CO2 into these components? For non scientists :)
6. When are you going to be able to produce it at scale? Can you put it into perspective? How long would it take you to create all amino acids for a vegan burger? How expensive would the burger be?
7. How would a reactor look like if you would be able to supply amino acids for Germany? What is the size?
8. You are writing that you are carbon neutral. Can you explain this?
9. Where do you get the co2 from?
10. Is it realistically to meet the worldwide demand of amino acids with this process?
11. Do you have competitors in this space?
12. As a retailer or manufacturer who would like to use these amino acids as base for their food products. Where do you need to go? Is there already a solution?

About Arkeon:

Arkeon Biotechnologies leverages the power of ancient microbes to create the most sustainable, nutritious, and ethical food. The company uses highly efficient microorganisms to produce customizable functional protein ingredients for the next generation of alternative protein food products. Arkeon’s proprietary technology is fully independent from agricultural land and directly converts CO2 into a range of clean label ingredients that are GMO-free and 100% vegan. The company holds the key to unlock a food system without resource constraints, without geographical restrictions and free from animal suffering.

Please check out show notes and background information: www.sustainnow.ch
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