# Calysta

Canonical page: https://technooptimist.io/companies/calysta
San Mateo company that grows bacteria on methane gas and dries them into FeedKind, a protein for fish, shrimp and pet food. Its joint-venture plant in Chongqing, China, is halted for upgrades.

## In brief

- Calysseo, a 50:50 JV with Adisseo, built a 20,000 t/yr FeedKind plant in Chongqing (2022).
- Plant halted for upgrades; Adisseo stopped funding the JV in July 2026.
- New CEO Berend Jan Kingma from July 2026; co-founder Alan Shaw is chairman.

## Facts

- Headquarters: US
- Status: private
- Website: https://calysta.com
- Frontiers: [Agriculture](https://technooptimist.io/agriculture.md) (Fermented proteins)

## Programs

- [FeedKind (Chongqing plant)](https://technooptimist.io/agriculture/feedkind.md) (Agriculture): Pilot; next: Fund upgrades and restart production. Chongqing plant halted for upgrades; JV partner Adisseo stopped funding in July 2026.

## Technical approach

- **Microbe: Bacteria that eat methane**: A naturally occurring microbe uses methane as its only food and turns it into protein-rich cell mass, with no farmland, fish or plant ingredients needed.
- **Reactor: Patented U-loop fermenter**: Gas and liquid are pumped around a U-shaped loop so the methane and oxygen dissolve and reach the bacteria fast.
- **Product: Dried protein meal**: The cells are separated and dried into FeedKind, sold for fish and shrimp feed and, as FeedKind Pet, for dog food.

## Open problems

- **Reaching design output** (open): The Chongqing plant never hit its design level; it needs funded upgrades, chiefly to downstream processing, to restart.
- **Competing on price** (open): Adisseo says the JV's economics face serious challenges against fishmeal and soy in the feed-protein market.

## Latest updates

- **4 Jul 2026**: Adisseo ends financial support for Calysseo as the FeedKind plant in Chongqing stays suspended. Bluestar Adisseo said it will give no more financial help to Calysseo, its 50:50 joint venture with Calysta. ([our story](https://technooptimist.io/stories/adisseo-ends-financial-support-for-calysseo-as-the-feedkind-plant-in-c549e92e.md) · [original source](https://aquaasiapac.com/2026/07/04/adisseo-ends-financial-support-to-calysseo-jv-producing-feedkind/))
- **1 Jul 2026**: Calysta names Berend Jan Kingma CEO as it seeks funding to restart FeedKind production. Berend Jan Kingma became Calysta's CEO, with co-founder Alan Shaw moving to non-executive chairman. ([our story](https://technooptimist.io/stories/calysta-names-berend-jan-kingma-ceo-as-it-seeks-funding-to-restart-2f21a1b3.md) · [original source](https://www.feedbusinessmea.com/2026/07/29/calysta-appoints-new-ceo-as-feedkind-producer-seeks-funding-to-scale-single-cell-protein-production/))
- **27 Feb 2025**: Marsapet launches MicroBell, the first dog food made with FeedKind Pet protein. German pet-food maker Marsapet launched MicroBell, a vegan, grain-free dry dog food whose main ingredients include FeedKind Pet protein, in European stores and online. ([our story](https://technooptimist.io/stories/marsapet-launches-microbell-the-first-dog-food-made-with-feedkind-pet-04b31e4f.md) · [original source](https://calysta.com/marsapet-launches-first-dog-food-featuring-feedkind-pet-protein/))
- **31 Jan 2024**: China fully approves Calysta's methane-based FeedKind protein for fish and shrimp feed. China's agriculture ministry granted FeedKind full approval for fish and shrimp feeds after an extensive evaluation, opening the world's largest aquafeed market to the protein made by Calysseo in Chongqing. ([our story](https://technooptimist.io/stories/china-fully-approves-calysta-s-methane-based-feedkind-protein-for-fish-1e7d8c61.md) · [original source](https://www.fishfarmingexpert.com/calysta-china-feed/china-gives-green-light-for-protein-from-gas-ingredient-in-aquafeed/1659522))
- **21 Oct 2022**: Calysseo switches on the first industrial-scale FeedKind plant in Chongqing, China. Calysseo, the Adisseo–Calysta joint venture, started up its Chongqing plant, designed to make 20,000 tonnes of FeedKind protein a year in a patented U-loop fermenter. ([our story](https://technooptimist.io/stories/calysseo-switches-on-the-first-industrial-scale-feedkind-plant-in-513ae230.md) · [original source](https://calysta.com/new-era-of-food-security-beckons-as-worlds-first-industrial-scale-alternative-protein-facility-switches-on/))

## Partners, customers and investors

- Adisseo (partner): 50:50 partner in Calysseo, the FeedKind joint venture; ended financial support in July 2026.
- BP (investor): Invested in Calysta; considered siting FeedKind plants at its oil and gas sites.
- Marsapet (customer): Launched MicroBell, the first dog food with FeedKind Pet protein (Feb 2025).

## People

- Berend Jan Kingma, CEO (from July 2026)
- Alan Shaw, Co-founder, non-executive chairman

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