Air-based protein in 2026: overview
Air-based protein is edible microbial biomass made using gases such as carbon dioxide and hydrogen rather than conventional agricultural feedstocks. In hydrogenotrophic fermentation, microbes use hydrogen for energy and carbon dioxide as a carbon source; the resulting biomass can be processed into a food or feed ingredient. The approach may diversify protein supply, but commercial viability depends on reliable gas and electricity supply, efficient cultivation, and making biomass suitable for use in food. Research output reached 22 publications in 2025, up 69.2% from the previous year, even as overall activity fell 7.3%.
Recent work is shifting from microbial growth alone toward usable protein ingredients and larger processes. In August 2026, Xi'an Jiaotong University and collaborators reported a 100 L pilot system producing single-cell protein from carbon dioxide with hydrogen-oxidizing bacteria. A study published in August 2026 by Tufts University described a targeted protein-recovery route for Cupriavidus necator. Commercial signals are also appearing: Ambrosia Collective launched Planta Powered by Solein in June 2026, while Solar Foods received a reported $89.2 million financing package toward a commercial-scale facility that month. The next test is whether production can deliver consistent ingredient quality and competitive costs at industrial scale.
- 1From biomass to ingredient: Recent research is tackling protein recovery and food usability, not just microbial cultivation.
- 2Scale meets food use: Solar Foods’ June 2026 financing and Planta launch point to a push from industrial plans toward consumer products.
- 3Hydrogen route advances: Hydrogenotrophic fermentation is gaining research momentum, while reactor performance and cost remain central scale-up challenges.
Top organizations working on air-based protein
Ranked by Linknovate activity score · last 24 monthsThe activity score adds up the relevance of every patent, publication, grant and news item linking an organization to air-based protein. Showing 7 of 27 organizations.
| # | Organization | Approach | Signals (24 mo) | Momentum | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hydrogenotrophic fermentation | PUB 3 · NEWS 71 | -43% | Produces Solein, a microbial protein ingredient using gas fermentation of hydrogen-oxidizing bacteria supplied with air, water, minerals and renewable electricity. | |
| 2 | 
Xi'an Jiaotong University
Research · China |
Hydrogenotrophic fermentation | PUB 6 | +0% | Researches electricity-driven production of single-cell protein from CO₂ using hydrogen-oxidizing bacteria, including pilot-scale and continuous electrolytic reactor systems. |
| 3 | 
University of Naples Federico II
Research · Italy |
Hydrogenotrophic fermentation | PUB 5 | -33% | Studies hydrogen-oxidizing bacteria for single-cell protein production, including approaches that couple their cultivation with dark fermentation and microalgae to capture carbon and recover nitrogen from food waste. |
| 4 | 
Universidad De Valladolid
Research · Spain |
Hydrogenotrophic fermentation | PUB 4 | new | Contributes research on hydrogen-oxidizing bacteria cultivation in processes that combine food-waste fermentation, carbon capture and nitrogen recovery. |
| 5 | 
Calysta Energy
Startup · United States |
Methanotrophic protein | NEWS 15 | -33% | Develops gas-fermentation technology using natural gas; its methanotrophic platform is used to produce microbial protein from methane. |
| 6 | 
Technical University of Denmark
Research · Denmark |
Hydrogenotrophic fermentation | PUB 3 · NEWS 1 | -67% | Studies single-cell protein production with hydrogen-oxidizing bacteria, including passive gas-feeding under ambient conditions and microbial protein from anaerobic-digestion streams. |
| 7 | 
Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences
Research · China |
Hydrogenotrophic fermentation | PUB 4 | new | Researches hydrogen-oxidizing bacteria as a source of single-cell protein and reviews microbial protein production from non-food carbon sources, including syngas fermentation. |
| 8 | ··Hidden organizationCompany | Approach | PAT 00 · PUB 00 GRANTS 0 · NEWS 00 | +00% | Available to registered users. |
| 9 | ··Hidden organizationCompany | Approach | PAT 00 · PUB 00 GRANTS 0 · NEWS 00 | +00% | Available to registered users. |
| 10 | ··Hidden organizationCompany | Approach | PAT 00 · PUB 00 GRANTS 0 · NEWS 00 | +00% | Available to registered users. |
Startups to watch and leading research centers
Startups to watch 1 total
- Solar Foods LtdFinlandProduces Solein, a microbial protein ingredient using gas fermentation of hydrogen-oxidizing bacteria supplied with air, water, minerals and renewable electricity.
Leading research institutions 18 total
- Xi'an Jiaotong UniversityChinaResearches electricity-driven production of single-cell protein from CO₂ using hydrogen-oxidizing bacteria, including pilot-scale and continuous electrolytic reactor systems.
- University of Naples Federico IIItalyStudies hydrogen-oxidizing bacteria for single-cell protein production, including approaches that couple their cultivation with dark fermentation and microalgae to capture carbon and recover nitrogen from food waste.
- Universidad De ValladolidSpainContributes research on hydrogen-oxidizing bacteria cultivation in processes that combine food-waste fermentation, carbon capture and nitrogen recovery.
- ··Hidden research institutionCountryAvailable to registered users, with their key researchers.
- ··Hidden research institutionCountryAvailable to registered users, with their key researchers.
Where air-based protein innovation happens
Share of documents with at least one organization from each country.
Open the interactive map with all 27 organizationsMain technical approaches
Last 24 months| Approach | What it is | Documents | Leading organizations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hydrogenotrophic fermentation | Hydrogen-oxidizing microbes use hydrogen for energy and carbon dioxide as a carbon source; the route depends on efficient gas transfer and a reliable hydrogen supply. | 38 |
Xi'an Jiaotong University, Solar Foods Ltd, University of Naples Federico II |
| Methanotrophic protein | Methane-using microbes convert a gas feedstock into protein-rich biomass; the route relies on methane sourcing and careful management of gas handling. | 9 |
LanzaTech Inc., Solar Foods Ltd, Calysta Energy |
| Syngas fermentation | Microbes convert syngas components such as carbon monoxide and hydrogen into biomass or products; variable gas composition can complicate process control. | 21 |
Solar Foods Ltd, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Calysta Energy |
| Phototrophic microbial biomass | Light-driven microbes use carbon dioxide to build biomass; cultivation can avoid hydrogen feedstocks but depends on effective light delivery. | 15 |
University of Naples Federico II, Institute of Sustainable Processes, Universidad De Valladolid |
Emerging trends
Last 12 months vs previous 36 monthsTerms whose frequency in the last 12 months grew the most compared with the previous 36 months.
Funding and investment
Recent funding rounds
Recorded funding totals $532,856,140 across 7 rounds, alongside $4,558,411 in grants since 2020. Solar Foods and LanzaTech appear among the organizations with recent funding activity.
Patent landscape
Top patent holders · last 24 monthsRecent developments
Latest news, duplicates removed- Oct 2026Europe is expanding the ways it produces food protein. The decisive industrial questions concern usable ingredients, reliable production and the cost of turning biological potential into food people choose to buy.…Innovation News Network
- Jul 20263 early signals and news. Every Monday. Episode 482. Solar Foods for protein from the sun Solar Foods is a food technology company from Finland ($166m fundings) that develops Solein®, an alternative to animal-derived…Technology on Medium
- Jul 2026Biosphere—a California-based startup developing UV-sterilized bioreactors it claims can slash biomanufacturing costs—has acquired the assets of defunct gas fermentation startup NovoNutrients. Biosphere, which recently…AFN
- Jun 2026With 2026 reaching its halfway point, most state legislatures have wrapped up their legislative sessions. As such, it is important to take stock of notable food related legislative actions that have occurred. This…Ag and Food Law Update – National Agricultural Law Center
- Month 20XXHidden developmentAvailable to registered users with alerts enabled.
Frequently asked questions about air-based protein
What companies are working on air-based protein?
Solar Foods Ltd, Air Protein, and Calysta Energy are among the companies developing gas-based protein platforms. Solar Foods produces Solein using hydrogen-oxidizing bacteria; Air Protein develops ingredients and prototype foods from carbon dioxide and hydrogen; Calysta Energy uses methane in its methanotrophic platform. LanzaTech also develops microbial gas-fermentation processes and protein-production methods.
Which universities and research centers lead air-based protein research?
Xi'an Jiaotong University, the University of Naples Federico II, and Universidad De Valladolid are active in air-based protein research. Xi'an Jiaotong University studies electricity-driven production using hydrogen-oxidizing bacteria, including pilot-scale reactor systems. Research at the University of Naples Federico II and Universidad De Valladolid includes coupling microbial cultivation with food-waste processing, carbon capture, and nitrogen recovery.
How much funding has air-based protein received?
The recorded totals are $532,856,140 across 7 funding rounds and $4,558,411 in grants since 2020. Solar Foods and LanzaTech feature in recent funding activity. These totals reflect the funding figures in the available data; they do not establish how much capital has been deployed specifically to air-based protein production.
Who holds the most air-based protein patents, and is activity growing?
LanzaTech Inc. leads the named patent holders with 2 patents, while Jupeng Bio HK Ltd, I.C.M. Inc, and DSM-Firmenich AG each have 1. There are 5 patents in the current window, and patent activity declined 100% compared with the previous 12 months. LanzaTech’s patents concern microbial gas fermentation and protein production.
What are the latest developments in air-based protein?
Recent developments span pilot production, protein recovery, and product launch. In August 2026, Xi'an Jiaotong University and collaborators reported a 100 L pilot system using carbon dioxide and hydrogen-oxidizing bacteria. A Tufts University study published in August 2026 described a route to recover protein from Cupriavidus necator. In June 2026, Ambrosia Collective launched Planta Powered by Solein in the United States.
What are the main approaches in air-based protein, and how do they differ?
The main approaches are hydrogenotrophic fermentation, methanotrophic protein, syngas fermentation, and phototrophic microbial biomass. They differ in the microbes and energy or carbon sources used: hydrogenotrophs use hydrogen and carbon dioxide, methanotrophs use methane, and syngas fermenters use gas mixtures. Phototrophic systems use light. Each route brings different feedstock, gas-transfer, or process-control demands.
Which countries lead air-based protein?
The United States leads with 355 tagged documents, followed by Finland with 192 and the United Kingdom with 138. Germany has 110 and France has 84. These country counts are not mutually exclusive, so they indicate where activity is associated rather than adding up to a single total. Solar Foods Ltd is based in Finland.
What are the applications of air-based protein?
Human food is a prominent application, with 68 documents; animal feed and aquaculture have 59. Resilient and local food production is another area, with 33 documents, while space life support has 7. Companies including Solar Foods Ltd and Air Protein develop food uses, and the European Space Agency and NASA appear in work related to space life support.
How mature is air-based protein?
Air-based protein has reached pilot research and early consumer-product activity, but industrial scale-up remains a key test. In August 2026, researchers reported a 100 L pilot system, while Ambrosia Collective launched a Solein-based product in June 2026. Solar Foods received reported financing for a commercial-scale facility in June 2026; the technology must still demonstrate reliable production and competitive ingredient costs at scale.