Danish biotech Novozymes and US-based Green Plains have formed an exclusive partnership to commercialize biological solutions for producing high-protein ingredients for aquaculture and pet food. The deal will also include the manufacture of novel ingredients to be used in global protein markets.

Headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, Green Plains is a leading corn processing company as well as a producer of high-protein feed ingredients. It will combine its biorefinery capacity, process know-how and global distribution network with Novozymes’ microbiology expertise to create a diverse range of value-added nutrition products.

Specifically, Novozymes’ biological solutions will be combined with Green Plains’ first high-protein production plant and Optimal Aquafeed’s aquaculture laboratory in Shenandoah, Iowa, USA. Optimal Aquafeed is a 50:50 joint venture formed between Green Plains and Optimal Fish Food in December 2018.

Novozymes said its biotechnology suite will help Green Plains achieve higher concentrations of protein. As part of the deal, the Bagsvaerd-based company will dedicate R&D resources to also look at new molecules and yeasts to test in Green Plains’ processes to further enhance protein products and, ultimately, create different, higher value outputs from the US firm’s biofuels production plants.

Todd Becker, president and CEO of Green Plains, said the partnership is another step in its transformation to a “world-class” protein provider. “As we continue to roll out high protein nutritional solutions for our customers, we expect to create a company with predictable and growing earnings and become much less dependent on our traditional business structure,” he said.

“This is a continuation of the transformation of Green Plains to a leading nutritional and ag-tech company focused on developing value-added products for animal feed and aquaculture customers globally fully utilizing the production capabilities we have in place today.”

Brian Brazeau, Novozymes vice president for bioenergy commercial and president of North America, added that the partnership will extend the company’s reach into the agricultural supply chain and touch a much larger portion of the animal feed market.

The companies plan to start implementing the collaboration in the first quarter of 2020. Financial terms were not disclosed.