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Group 00
INTRODUCTION TO BIOSOLUTIONS
 01
RAPID DANISH DEVELOPMENT
 02
HUGE GLOBAL POTENTIAL
 03
CASE: FROM WASTE TO TASTE
 04
CASE: SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE WITH MICROBES
 05
DANISH RESEARCH-BACKED INNOVATION
 06
CASE: PRECISION FERMENTATION
07
CASE: TURNING CO2 INTO FOOD
 08
CASE: ENHANCING FLAVOURS WHILE REDUCING ENERGY
Group 00
INTRODUCTION TO BIOSOLUTIONS
 01
RAPID DANISH DEVELOPMENT
 02
HUGE GLOBAL POTENTIAL
 03
CASE: FROM WASTE TO TASTE
 04
CASE: SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE WITH MICROBES
 05
DANISH RESEARCH-BACKED INNOVATION
 06
CASE: PRECISION FERMENTATION
07
CASE: TURNING CO2 INTO FOOD
 08
CASE: ENHANCING FLAVOURS WHILE REDUCING ENERGY

Biosolutions

within agriculture and food

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Case collection by Denmark

The world is positioned better than ever to accelerate the global sustainable transition with biosolutions. To achieve a sustainable global food system, we need solutions to reduce methane emissions, develop plant-based proteins, use less land, counter food waste and exploit side streams from food production, as well as replace traditional fertilizers and plant protection products with biologically based solutions. 

Biosolutions—nature-based tools applied at an industrial scale—are key. Enzymes, pheromones, fermentation, bio-refining and bacteria cultures drive the shift from a fossil-based to a bio-based economy. Denmark leads in this field. Danish companies have demonstrated the potential of biosolutions with resource-efficient products across various sectors. Continued investment, research, and collaboration will support this transition. Scroll on to see for yourself. 

this equals 4300 million tonnes of CO2

%

of the worlds carbon emissions can be cut with current biosolutions by 2030

Denmark at the forefront of biosolutions

Denmark is a frontrunner in developing and commercializing biosolutions tailored for the agriculture and food sectors. Building on a longstanding tradition, Danish research institutes and businesses have developed and applied biosolutions. This legacy ensures that advanced technologies like fermentation and biorefining are deeply integrated into the Danish industrial ecosystem, supported by a strong research community that holds extensive expertise and produces the necessary breakthroughs to drive the industry forward. This intersectoral linkage has led to increasing competitiveness and strong public-private partnerships and it has made Denmark a European center of excellence. The progression highlights the innovative solutions of Danish companies alongside the Danish government’s consistent strategic emphasis on the sector.

In scaling biosolutions globally, collaboration between governments, industries, academia and civil society continues to be of critical importance. In Denmark, the notion of collaboration goes back to the co-operative movement in the 1800s when farmers united to develop and grow their sector. Today, close tie-ups between businesses, knowledge institutions and the government mean that Denmark has a highly developed ecosystem for startups, students, researchers, and big businesses. Interdependent and well-organized, they exchange knowledge and talents, thus accelerating development.

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It may be a fermentation tank; it might be a brewery!

Get a feeling of how the biosolutions sector is developing rapidly in Denmark.

Why Biosolutions?

The era of biosolutions is upon us. Through the utilization of fermentation and other biological processes, biosolutions provide a new approach that causes us to rethink how we produce and manufacture products in a variety of sectors including agriculture, food, energy, construction, textile, transportation, water, and waste management. The world stands on the forefront of a new age, where tiny but mighty enzymes, functional proteins and microbes are some of the key drivers of innovation which has the potential to help solving some of humanity’s most pressing challenges. This transformation seeks to harness the power of biology, introducing innovative methods that serve as an option next to chemical and mechanical approaches.

The biosolutions currently at hand have the potential to cut 4,300 million tonnes of CO2 by 2030, equivalent to 8% of today’s global emissions.

These refined processes maximize the value of our limited resources and have the potential to advance more sustainable solutions. This demonstrates the immense capacity of nature’s own toolbox to tackle the globe’s climate and environmental challenges. Both the EU and Denmark are decarbonizing its economies, with biosolutions paving the way for new products and services that reduce our climate footprint.

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The global market for industrial biosolutions is expected to grow by 10 per cent annually in the coming years and to reach a total global market value of almost EUR 560 billion by 2026, corresponding to just over DKK 4,175 billion.

Transforming global food systems

with innovative Danish biosolutions

The world faces significant challenges related to food. We need to rethink our food systems to support a growing global population and protect planetary boundaries. We also need resilient supply systems that can withstand disruptions from conflicts. Additionally, developing new products and solutions is crucial to reduce the climate impact of our food production and consumption.

Below, you will find examples of biosolutions from Denmark for the global food system. Biosolutions that, for example, allow us to produce bioplastic from grass juice, replace meat with plant-based proteins, protect plants with biologically based proteins, and combat food waste by extending the shelf life of dairy products using natural processes.

From waste to taste

REDUCED, a Danish flavour solutions company, addresses the global issue of food loss—1.6 billion tons annually, contributing to 8% of greenhouse gas emissions—by upcycling surplus agricultural and food industry by-products.

Using a patented method called accelerated fermentation, which employs koji spores to unlock umami flavors, they transform waste into high-quality, natural food products.

To date, they have processed 60 tonnes of by-products and plan to scale to 500 tonnes in the next two years, improving their processing efficiency by 300% and achieving significant energy savings.

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More sustainable agriculture with microbes

To address the challenge of sustainable agriculture amid a growing global population, Novonesis, a Danish biotech company, has developed microbial seed inoculants, Jumpstart® and Optimize®. These products enhance nutrient uptake in crops like soy, wheat, and corn, leading to yield increases of 3-7% in field tests.

This method boosts efficiency without additional inputs, reduces fertilizer usage, lowers greenhouse gas emissions, and promotes healthier soil, ultimately contributing to more sustainable farming practices.

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Denmarks collaborative culture enables research-backed innovation

Denmark has a strong foundation for reaping the potential of the bioeconomy. We have very strong research environments within the key sciences in the field. This applies to microbiology, genetics, bioinformatics and biochemistry, for example. In addition, there is close collaboration in Denmark between universities and the business community to develop the technologies that can produce the bio-based products of the future. This applies, for example, to new fermentation methods, so-called cell factories and the cultivation of new microorganisms.

 

In short, biosolutions is a cross-cutting business area that originates from research into understanding and utilising biological systems.

Precision fermentation targets the global protein need

With global protein demand set to double by 2050, Novonesis addresses the need for sustainable protein sources using precision fermentation.

This method, which employs microorganisms in tanks of sugar and water, produces proteins with nutritional quality akin to meat and milk while potentially reducing carbon emissions by up to 90%, and cutting water and land use by 90%. It also offers a reliable protein supply independent of environmental fluctuations.

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Turning CO2 into feed, food, and skin care ingredients

Algiecel, a Danish start-up, tackles industrial CO2 emissions with a plug & play photobioreactor that transforms emissions into microalgae biomass using LED light and photosynthesis.

This modular system fits into standard shipping containers, requires minimal setup, and produces valuable products for aquaculture, pet food, dietary supplements, and cosmetics. The technology captures CO2 while emitting only oxygen and reusable heat, offering an innovative, scalable, and sustainable solution for reducing carbon footprints in multiple industries.

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New concentration technology enhances flavours while reducing energy demand

Aquaporin A/S introduces an innovative cold concentration technology using aquaporin protein membranes to extract water from food products without heat, preserving flavor and nutrients.

This method reduces energy consumption to one-tenth of traditional thermal methods and eliminates the need for cold storage, cutting costs and greenhouse gas emissions.

Currently tested in various food categories, including grape juice for wine production, it promises significant efficiency gains in food processing.

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Biosolutions in the industrial sector

When combining biology with technology, the possibilities of biosolutions ignite. By cunningly using nature’s own toolbox and applying it in scale, Danish companies are leading the way in advancing sustainable biotechnical solutions that contribute immensely to combatting climate change as well as safeguarding biodiversity in industrial productions.

Explore biosolutions within the industrial sector at stateofgreen.com.

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Keep exploring the Danish strongholds

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