[Disclosure: AgFunderNews’ parent company AgFunder is an investor in Future Fields.]

The Future of Protein Production: How Future Fields is Shaping the Industry

Revolutionizing Protein Manufacturing

Launched in 2018 by innovators Matt and Jalene Anderson-Baron, Future Fields initially aimed to produce growth factors aimed at cultivation of meat. Over time, the company has diversified its focus, targeting established markets within biopharma, food, and agriculture sectors.

In contrast to conventional fermentation tanks that utilize sugar-fed microbes, Future Fields employs fruit flies, which require significantly less water, food, and investment in infrastructure. The firm inaugurated a commercial plant in December 2024, capable of delivering high-purity recombinant protein products in kilogram quantities annually.

Advanced Protein Production Capabilities

According to Matt Anderson-Baron, fruit flies possess a superior internal machinery compared to microbial cells, which enables the production of more complex proteins. “Typically, clients collaborate with us after encountering challenges with proteins on conventional platforms,” he explained. “Issues may arise from low yields, high costs, or the complexity of the protein itself, which is not feasible to create with traditional methods.”

“The biopharma sector faces unique challenges that can often not be addressed with existing manufacturing processes,” he continued. “For instance, the demand for complex drug-target proteins like transmembrane proteins is particularly high, but these are notoriously difficult to manufacture.”

“Future Fields’ technology is a game changer. It introduces a new way of manufacturing proteins at a much lower cost and with a reduced GHG footprint,” stated Pascal Lanctot, partner at BDC Climate Tech Fund.

Strategic Path to Profitability

The recent funding secured by Future Fields will drive platform expansion, making it possible to produce proteins within various tissues, such as neurons and muscle cells. This promising direction will advance next-generation disease research, Anderson-Baron noted.

“Creating proteins in distinct cell types grants us enhanced access to biological machinery for protein synthesis. Each cell type possesses unique biological tools, including enzymes and chaperones. Accessing various cell types through insects means we have an exponentially richer biological toolkit for tackling complex protein manufacturing challenges,” explained Anderson-Baron.

He added, “Beyond the machinery, the cellular environment comes into play. Certain cell types have increased membrane capacity, which can be advantageous for manufacturing transmembrane proteins, another challenging category.”

There is also potential for future monetization of the insect material left post-harvest and purification. “While we’re not at the operational scale yet where this is cost-effective, as we ramp up production and generate more biomass, we can capitalize on these side streams to enhance both our economics and sustainability,” Anderson-Baron emphasized.

“Our operational efficiency stands out in comparison to competitors in the field. With this new financial backing, we anticipate reaching profitability,” he concluded.

Final Thoughts

As Future Fields continues to innovate in protein production, industry experts remain captivated by the prospects of using fruit flies as a viable alternative to traditional microbial systems. Only time will tell whether these tiny organisms can indeed outpace established methods in the ever-evolving landscape of recombinant protein manufacturing.

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