Copenhagen/Riyadh: The Saudi Industrial Investment Group (“SIIG”), a prominent investor/operator in the chemical industry in Saudi Arabia, and Unibio International PLC (“Unibio”), a leading biofermentation company, will build the world’s largest single-cell protein plant in Saudi Arabia in an 80:20 (SIIG:Unibio) joint venture to feed the world's growing population and improve food security.

Unibio welcomed SIIG as an investor in 2023. Since then, the partners have made significant progress preparing to build the world’s largest single-cell protein plant in Saudi Arabia based on Unibio’s patented vertical loop bioreactor technology. With its abundance of natural gas, Saudi Arabia is an ideal location to use Unibio’s unique fermentation technology to produce single-cell protein – Uniprotein^® - with natural gas as feedstock. As part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia is looking to diversify its economy and create dynamic opportunities for its citizens through education, entrepreneurship and innovation. Unibio’s transformational technology and SIIG’s strategic aspirations mark a significant milestone by bringing the most sophisticated industrial fermentation to the Kingdom.

The plant will be located in Al Jubail and will produce an initial 50,000 tonnes of Uniprotein^® annually with plans to increase to over 300,000 tonnes in the coming years. The plant aims to reduce Saudi Arabia’s dependency on animal feed imports. The Uniprotein^® produced is expected to be sold both domestically and internationally.

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‍Gas turned into feed‍

The plant will use Unibio’s proprietary vertical loop bioreactor technology, a continuous-flow fermentation process that replicates nature in converting methane into Uniprotein^®, a high-quality and sustainable single-cell protein for animal feed.

Uniprotein^® has been tested successfully in various animal species. Non-GMO, free from pesticides, and fully traceable, it is approved for aquaculture in Saudi Arabia, for feed in the EU and has additional registrations globally.

The front-end engineering design (FEED) was completed last year, and construction of the plant is anticipated to commence in the second half of 2026, with commercialisation expected to start in 2028. This facility will be the largest single-cell protein facility ever built in the world. A gas allocation for the plant has been received from Saudi Ministry of Energy, and a site has been nominated by the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu. The project has also received strong support from a number of related Saudi Government entities.

The Joint Venture agreement follows a US$ 70 million investment in Unibio from SIIG in 2023. SIIG’s strategy to grow and diversify its business – will be accelerated by its investment in Unibio.

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‍Commenting on the JV, David Henstrom, CEO of Unibio said:

“The world needs innovators who collectively want to find a solution to providing food stability for future generations. We believe that our fermentation technology, which incorporates the most efficient reactor of its kind in gas fermentation, is ideal for Saudi Arabia. We are delighted to join with SIIG as a JV partner to bring industrial scale fermentation to the Kingdom and look forward to working together to address an authentic problem - how to feed a growing population with minimal impact on the planet”.

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‍Mr. Abdulrahman Alismail of Saudi Industrial Investment Group, added:

“We are excited to work on developing this project alongside our partner Unibio, and look forward to bringing sustainable protein production to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, our region, and the rest of the world. We see this as a strategic investment for our company and the long-term growth in shareholder value. Using Unibio’s technology, we aim to make Saudi Arabia the leader in single-cell protein production and improve food security for both Saudi Arabia and the world’s growing population”.

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Unibio was named one of the top presenters at the Tech Tour Bio-based Industries 2025 event. The event took place on 13 November in Wuppertal, Germany, where 38 companies out of 150 applicants showcased advances in the bio-based economy, bringing together innovators from across the sector.

David Henstrom represented Unibio in the Agriculture and Food & Feed Products session with a five-minute pitch. Out of the 38 companies invited to participate, we were honored to be selected among the top eight presenters, recognized for delivering a sustainable, cost-effective, and scalable protein solution for the aquaculture industry.

Reflecting on the event, David shared: ‘Thrilled to have participated in this event and seeing the investor interest in our forward-thinking solution we are bringing to the market.’

The eight companies selected as Top Presenters were chosen from a field of 38 promising innovators whose solutions impressed the expert jury with their vision, sustainability impact, and potential to advance the bio-based industry.

We are delighted to welcome Petter Østbø from Atlas Agro to the Board of Unibio International PLC from 1 March.

Petter, Founder and CEO of Atlas Agro, the renewable fertiliser company, is a distinguished leader in agriculture and business, known for his commitment to innovation and sustainability in the agricultural sector.

He has a track record of managing large-scale production facilities, leading billion-dollar productivity transformations, and advancing sustainable agricultural practices. His strong background in EPCs, projects, project finance and equity finance are areas which will lend strength to Unibio as it grows.

We look forward to working closely with Petter!

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Uniprotein®, has been officially approved by the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) for use in aquaculture applications. Following a comprehensive review process that began in April 2023, the SFDA has confirmed the safety of Uniprotein® for use in feed for fish, shrimp, and crustaceans. With this approval, Uniprotein® is now cleared for sale to the Saudi feed industry and can be tested under commercial conditions, reinforcing the significant benefits of microbial single-cell protein.

A strategic move into the Middle East

“We are pleased to announce that Uniprotein® has been approved for aquaculture applications in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (‘KSA’). This is a significant step into KSA, a key region that is working towards feed and food self-sufficiency under the Vision 2030 programme, while increasing local fish production,” said Olivier Hartz, CCO at Unibio.

Continuously expanding regulatory approvals

Saudi Arabia has joined a growing list of countries where Uniprotein® has been already approved for use in animal feed. The list includes several territories such as the European Union, Japan, India, Thailand, Russia, and Chile. The expanding list of approvals highlights confidence in Uniprotein® as a safe protein source in regulated feed markets.

The aquaculture industry stands at a turning point. With innovations like Uniprotein®, we are moving closer to a future where fish farming becomes more efficient, profitable, and environmentally responsible.

In our latest feature article in Aquafeed.com magazine, we discuss how Uniprotein® is setting new standards in aquafeed ingredients.

Find out more about how our gas-to-protein technology is helping the aquaculture sector reduce its reliance on wild-caught fish for feed production.

"This is not just about replacing fishmeal," says Unibio’s Chief Commercial Officer Olivier Hartz. "It's about unlocking the full potential of aquaculture – a sector that can provide a vital source of protein for a growing global population while minimizing its environmental impact. The time for change is now. The future of aquaculture is bright, and Unibio is leading the way."

In the article, we also talk about Uniprotein®'s digestibility, amino acid profile, and immune-boosting properties, which help Atlantic salmon develop a faster and more effective response to vaccination.

Read the full article below:

Aquafeed Magazine Vol 17 Edition 1 2025 by Aquafeed Media