Arborea – BioSolar Leaf

About

Arborea believes that “industrial photosynthesis” will be the number one choice for the production of biochemicals. Why? Because photosynthetic microorganisms are the fastest growing primary producers of biomass in nature, and they will produce the same biochemicals (and more) as plant crops, without the environmental constraints and pollution. However, why photosynthetic microorganisms are not mainstream? Because their current cultivation technologies are inefficient: “Open systems” such as Open Ponds, suffer from high contamination levels that decrease productivities and product quality. Moreover, they have poor control of culturing parameters that increases costs. “Closed systems” such as Tubular PBR or Flat Panel PBRs, being enclosed in a container they have inefficient gas-transfer and temperature control that greatly increase operational and capital costs. Arborea is developing the most efficient biochemicals production platform that solves the crucial issues of existing photosynthetic culture platforms, rendering them obsolete. Arborea’s solution, the “BioSolar Leaf”, is neither an open-system nor a closed-system; it is the world’s first "breathing system" that breaths like a leaf. This membrane-driven breathing-bioreactor® technology enables a hyper-efficient gas transfer and temperature control while maintaining optimal growth conditions. In doing so, it has created a radically more effective biochemicals production platform resulting in a capital-light, scalable solution which slashes the costs of fermentation. Arborea will firstly disrupt food ingredients markets by enabling hitherto expensive nutritional ingredients and proteins to be produced sustainably, efficiently, and affordably. Furthermore, the BioSolar Leaf has the unique ability to absorb carbon dioxide at very low pressure and very low concentrations from most exhaust gasses; therefore, it is the only cultivation platform that can use the carbon dioxide produced from local energy generation or from local industrial processes without the need to buy it or to compress/concentrate it. In doing so, Arborea is set to commercialise the first carbon-neutral proteins on the planet. The major unique benefits of Arborea’s BioSolar Leaf are: Lowest Cost – cost of production is >50% lower than the lowest quality alternative for photosynthetic microorganisms (i.e. Open Systems) and heterotrophic fermentation. High ROI – due to its low cost of production and low capital intensity. Flexible and Modular Production – little capital needed to reach desired production costs. Unlimited Scalability – due to (i) its unique ability to maintain optimal growth conditions at any scale, (ii) its ability to grow biomass on barren land and (iii) to use unlimited sustainable feedstock (i.e. sunlight and CO2). Carbon Neutrality – thanks to its unique ability to absorb low-pressure CO2 from exhaust gases without the need to buy it or to compress/concentrate it. High Product Differential Potential – thanks to its delicate cultivation methods and efficient control of culturing parameters. High Quality – it produces high purity biomass that is never in contact with outside air.