The Danish company EvodiaBio is using fermentation technology to reinvent the production of natural flavours for food and beverages – providing an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional plant extract.

Flavours are widely used across sectors, from food and beverages to cosmetics and cleaning products. However, producing natural flavour compounds the conventional way can be highly resource-intensive. For example, one kilo of hop flavour takes nearly 3,000 litres of water, while one kilo of lavender flavour may demand up to 300 kilos of plant material.

EvodiaBio’s yeast-based fermentation method replaces the need for harvested flavour crops by converting simple sugars into monoterpenes – the microscopic molecules that define flavour and scent. Years of research have enabled a scalable, industrial process where yeast cells secrete individual aroma components that are later blended to mimic the precise flavour profiles found in hops and other plants.

Fermentation cuts the carbon footprint of hop flavour by more than 80%

The first application targets the fast-growing market for non-alcoholic beer, where achieving an authentic beer flavour has long been a challenge. With EvodiaBio’s solution, only one litre of water is needed to produce the equivalent flavour impact of one kilo of hops.

For breweries, this means a reliable flavour supply, consistent quality and significant environmental savings.

The fermentation technology cuts the carbon footprint of hop flavour by more than 80% while eliminating the need for landintensive cultivation and irrigation. Looking ahead, EvodiaBio aims to expand the approach to beverages and other industries that rely on plant-based flavours.

Demand for natural food colours is rising globally, driven by consumer interest in transparency, nutrition and sustainable ingredient choices. Denmark has strong capabilities in this field. Active in more than 120 markets, Oterra is one of the world’s leading suppliers of natural food colours.

To meet growing demand efficiently, the company has strengthened each part of its value chain from plant development to final ingredient production.

Oterra has more than doubled pigment concentration in black carrots, reducing land use and resource requirements

A key element of Oterra’s approach is targeted plant breeding. By crossbreeding parent plants and selecting offspring with naturally higher pigment concentrations, Oterra increases pigment yield per hectare. One example is the black carrot, a source of anthocyanins. Through systematic breeding, pigment content in black carrots has been more than doubled, improving productivity on farms and reducing the amount of land, transport and processing capacity needed to achieve the same output.

In addition to plant breeding, Oterra applies a production method known as ‘colouring foodstuff’, in which juice concentrates are produced, instead of being obtained by direct extraction from the plant. This preserves more of the raw material’s original nutritional value, offering additional benefits in the final food product.

The combined approach supports a more resource-efficient production of natural colours. Higher pigment yields reduce the environmental footprint per kilo of colour produced, while tailored natural colourants offer manufacturers a clean-label alternative to synthetic options. By advancing both plant breeding and processing methods, Oterra supports growing demand for natural and sustainably produced food colour solutions.

Danish seaweed technology is nourishing a new business proposition for land-based aquaculture.

A plug-and-play system for seaweed cultivation gives land-based fish farms an outstanding opportunity to transform problematic nutrient emissions into a new source of income.

Danish start-up company Pure Algae has developed the technology for industrial facilities that use recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS), which enable large-scale fish production in an almost closed loop.

Although modern filtration systems remove as much as 90% of nutrients from RAS fish tanks, the remaining 10% are still an environmental liability and a limiting factor for farms with ambitions to expand. It is this challenge that the Pure Algae’s automated seaweed-growing containers are designed to solve.

High-quality seaweed and tonnes of fish
Founder and CEO Esben Christiansen explains how the scalable, plug-in containers turn the concept of water purification around. From being an expense, nutrient removal becomes a driver of profit.

The technology can turn 60 tonnes of RAS process water into 300 tonnes of high-quality seaweed

“Compliance with environmental regulations is easier because the seaweed consumes waste nutrients in the water. RAS facilities can then produce tonnes more fish while creating an additional revenue stream.”

A rich source of bioactive compounds
Compared to a conventional nutrient capture and storage system, nutrients such as nitrogen and CO2 are captured and utilised for seaweed growth. The seaweed can be sold for use in dietary supplements, food products and cosmetics. Rich in protein, vitamins, minerals and omega-3 fatty acids, seaweed is also an efficient source of nutrition in fish feed – completing the circular loop.

“There are more than 10,000 seaweed varieties, each with their own properties. An important part of our role is to advise aquaculture companies on the best seaweed variety for their facility. Due to the high interest in seaweed from various industries, we can often connect them with a potential buyer for the seaweed that they can deliver with a stable high quality all year round,” Christiansen says.

International exports underway
Pure Algae delivers lab-scale units for production trials and large-scale container systems, which can be installed individually or in clusters. Industrial units for higher capacity needs will be launched in the near future.

The technology is attracting considerable international attention, with exports of the first container systems to Germany, Portugal and Switzerland.

 

Dairy farming is a critical component of the global agricultural sector, providing nutrients and food products to millions of people. However, the significant amounts of greenhouse gas emissions are costly and unsustainable.

Manure management is a significant contributor to the greenhouse gas emissions, due to the high production of methane and nitrous oxide during manure storage. To combat this challenge, GEA has introduced a new system that reduces the emissions and increases the crop yield.

Reducing emissions with nitrogen content

To reduce emissions from manure management, GEA, in collaboration with N2 Applied, has introduced the GEA ProManure E2950 – Manure Enricher. The system converts livestock manure into an environmentally friendly nitrogen enriched fertilizer, through plasma technology. The system operates automatically and is installed in a 20-foot container, making it easy to integrate into a farm’s existing infrastructure. It can be remotely monitored, ensuring seamless operation.

Compared to normal fertilizer production that is heavy in greenhouse gases, the technology adds nitrogen from the air into slurry, increasing the nitrogen content. This reaction lowers the pH and reduces the ammonia emissions by 95% and methane emissions by 99% from storage and spreading.

This reaction lowers the pH and reduces the ammonia emissions by 95% and methane emissions by 99% from storage and spreading

The use of nitrogen enriched fertilizer has not only reduced emissions significantly, but also resulted in greater crop yields. On average, dairy farmers have realized that compared to untreated livestock slurry, the system has increased their crop yields by up to 40% and reduced air pollution on dairy farms by up to 50%. Moreover, the process eliminates leakages and typical manure smells on their farms, providing greater flexibility for manure spreading.

An investment in the climate and cost effectiveness

The technology can be profitably utilized within the framework of the EU’s Farm to Fork program to effectively reduce agricultural emissions and meet the climate targets set by individual nations. This is particularly beneficial for countries which have or consider introducing the CO2 tax, as it helps reduce overall costs for dairy farmers.

Feed prices vary a lot in the aquaculture business. When they go up, the higher production cost is not necessarily reflected in the sales price to consumers. That can really put earnings under pressure in an industry where feed is the biggest expense.

For the fish feed specialists at Aller Aqua, ensuring the fish farmers’ profitability is an important part of the job. The Danish family-run business draws on 60 years of experience when tailoring feed products that balance farm budgets with the needs of the fish.

“Being close to our customers is how we differentiate ourselves. It’s not just about delivering fish feed. We have to be able to react quickly and spar with customers about how we can optimise their business,” says Henrik Halken, group vice-president.

Efficiency with a low footprint

Sustainable sourcing of raw materials plays a big role in that. By prioritising locally sourced raw materials, Aller Aqua has come a long way with improving cost efficiency and reducing the feed’s carbon footprint. At the company’s European factories, for example, the substitution of imported soymeal with local crops has cut CO₂ emissions by 17%.

Henrik Halken adds that extra flexibility comes from the use of alternative raw materials, such as processed animal proteins for protein powder or rapeseed oil instead of fish oil.

Around 90% of raw materials today come from the area around our production plants, particularly in Europe. Because we’ve become really good at using what we have in the region, we transport less.

Tailored feed for 30 species

The Aller Aqua research centre in Germany is responsible for testing the palatability, digestibility and quality of new raw materials and their impact on fish growth and health.

Large-scale feed trials are then conducted at sites in China, Egypt, Zambia and China. These ensure the feed is perfectly adapted to each fish species under local conditions. Feed formulations have been developed and comprehensively tested for 30 species in all.

In addition to its factory in Denmark, Aller Aqua has production facilities in China, Egypt, Germany, Poland, Serbia and Zambia. Exports to more than 70 countries worldwide are  testament to the company’s knowledge and expertise.

 

Relentless innovation is a must in the fisheries sector to overcome challenges like excessive by-catch and seabed damage. Using the latest proven equipment, fishing vessels and sea-based fish farms can make their operations more efficient and sustainable.

Flume Tank North Sea A/S in northern Jutland is the go-to test facility for validating new gear before it goes on the market. The largest in Europe and the second largest in the world, the tank can demonstrate exactly how a new trawl door, fish cage and other devices will behave in the ocean. The tank can also detect unforseen errors with a negative impact on performance.

The tank can also detect unforeseen errors with a negative impact on performance

Real-time performance data

Precision testing relies on the tank’s ability to simulate ocean current and waves. Real-time performance measurements are then captured by an advanced 3D video setup. Along the tank’s clear sides, there is plenty of space for the large groups of international observers who regularly visit.

According to CEO Mette Hyldgaard Roussis, Flume Tank North Sea A/S serves as an important bridge between research, business and fishery authorities.

“The biggest value we provide is that our clients can see what’s happening in the water. They may need to ensure a certain piece of equipment meets legal requirements or to determine how to optimise it to improve safety. Or they may be working on an innovation project to develop a new type of net that reduces by-catch, for example. We give them a detailed report after each test.”

A centre of international renown

Most of the clients are big equipment suppliers from around the North Atlantic. Often they bring their own customers for a demonstration before finalising a sale. Other clients include Denmark’s National Institute of Aquatic Resources, which recently opened a new campus at the North Sea Science Park, where Flume Tank North Sea A/S is based. Fishery authorities also use the facility for training purposes.

From autumn 2024, it will become possible for visitors to view tank demonstrations via a new online platform. Mette Hyldgaard Roussis expects this to make the facility more useful to international organisations from further afield.

“The fishery sector must stay innovative to meet new requirements for protecting the marine environment. We are here to facilitate that continuous development so the industry can operate sustainably and profitably in the future.”

The leather industry faces significant challenges regarding documentation on sustainability and the lack of transparency throughout the value chain. With concerns rising over the origin of leather, animal welfare and its environmental impact, SPOOR embarked on a mission to challenge the status quo through technologies ensuring full traceability and documentation of animal welfare and sustainability.

SPOOR introduced a solution providing Nordic bovine leather with full traceability. The leather originates from animals used for food production, utilizing the remaining hide as an input for leather production. Moreover, the leather is sourced from cows in Denmark, Sweden, Holland and Germany known for being countries with high animal welfare.

Implementing a Comprehensive Tracking System
Tracking each step in the leather production process, makes it possible to identify which areas could be improved and where emissions could be reduced. Each hide is marked with a unique reference linked to the individual ear tag of the cattle, through advanced laser technology. This makes it possible to track the leather from farm to final product, identifying the exact cow it came from. This print acts as a unique reference, a product passport, which will follow the hide.

Each hide is marked with a unique reference linked to the individual ear tag of the cattle, through advanced laser technology

This innovative approach enables the gathering of data regarding the origins of the leather to increase animal welfare while reducing climate impact associated with each hide.

Reducing Environmental Footprints through Close Collaboration
A collaboration with the Swedish outdoor-shoe brand Icebug, has led to large improvements in the footprints of their shoes. After Icebug shifted to collaborating with SPOOR, they reduced their carbon emissions by 50%, highlighting the benefits of embracing traceable Scandinavian leather supported by data to reach more sustainable leather sources.

Today, SPOOR collaborates closely with 17 international brands within fashion, furniture, and interior design, aiming to produce transparent products with traceable origins.

SPOOR is part of Scan-Hide which is Denmark’s last remaining tannery.

Denmark is the first country in the world where all dairy farmers use the same Climate Check model to report and work on initiatives reducing their climate impact.

The industry organization Danish Dairy Board has made a shared industry model called for climate checks on farms available to all dairies in Denmark. This is a science based evaluation of the carbon foot print of each farms production of raw milk. These climate checks are central in the entire Danish dairy industry’s joint efforts to reduce the sectors climate footprint from farm and dairy to refrigerated counter.

The measurement tool, called Mejeribrugets Klimatjek, is based on the Science Based Targets, the International Dairy Federation’s Guideline on “A common carbon footprint approach for the dairy sector” and Arla’s Climate Check model. This industry standard is a world-first initiative and a huge testament to the willingness to collaborate and the shared goal of climate action in the Danish dairy sector.

Since 2022, all Danish Arla-farmers, making up most Danish dairy farmers, have been using a Climate Check model developed internally by Arla. This model aims at making reductions in greenhouse gas emissions from farms measurable and quantifiable.

The Climate Check model, which is a digital tool, works by letting the farmer fill in a host of information about their farm and how they run it, e.g. their use of feed, manure handling, animal husbandry and agricultural activities. The tool then estimates, based on science-based parameters, how well the farm is scoring in relation to its climate footprint. The Climate Checks are 3^rd party evaluated. Farmers also receive advise on which actions could be taken to further reduce carbon footprint.

Now, the rest of Danish dairy farmers, which consist of approximately 300 organic as well as conventional farms, are able to access a digital climate check platform, a 1:1 copy of the Arla model established and rolled out by the Danish Dairy Board (Mejeriforeningen) as an industry tool.

All farmers are in total control of their own collected data, and they may use it as they please in collaboration with their individual dairies.

Once filled out and enrolled in the program, every single Danish farmer will once a year receive a third-party audit, a qualified climate advisor estimating the potentials for improvements across all reported activities.

A core part of the model, enabled by its scale, is the opportunity for farmers to benchmark the carbon footprint of their specific milk production across a pool of comparable farmers. Also, each dairy receives data from its milk suppliers.

By implementing the industry model for climate checks on farms, for the first time in world history, all dairy companies sourcing raw milk in a single country, from the smaller dairy with 5 farmer owners and up to Arla with 1900 Danish farmer owner, are using the same tool to document and drive reductions in emissions from milk production.

The climate goal of Danish dairy farming is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in line with the Paris Agreement from all three Scopes – i.e. a 35% reduction from Scope 1 + 2 in the period 2022–2030. The Danish Dairy Association has 30 members, of which 12 dairies receive raw milk directly from dairy farmers. These 12 dairies, of which some are cooperatives, some privately owned, process approximately 5.6 billion kilos of milk per year, equal to the total Danish raw milk production.

The official dietary guidelines, encouraged by the Danish Veterinary, Food, Agriculture and Fisheries Agency (Styrelsen for Fødevarer, Landbrug og Fiskeri), not only guide Danes on how to eat healthier but also on how to consume more climate-friendly foods.

On average, Danes emit eight kilograms of CO2 daily through the consumption of food and beverages, resulting in an approximate annual emission of three tons of CO2 per person. While many people are aware of how to balance a healthy diet, awareness of climate-friendly foods is still lagging. Consequently, the Danish Veterinary, Food, Agriculture and Fisheries Agency has provided dietary guidelines focusing on promoting both healthy and climate-friendly diets for the Danish population.

What is healthy for the human body is generally also healthy for the planet. Therefore, the guidelines strongly encourage Danes to consume foods with a lower climate impact, including more legumes, vegetables, and fruit while reducing the consumption of meat and dairy products.

THe guidelines can assist in reducing CO2 emissions by 35% through a reduction in meat consumption

Small Changes Can Lead to Big CO₂ Reductions

The official dietary guidelines align with the government’s ambition to reduce the climate footprint by 70% by 2030. Health and sustainability have long been linked, giving rise to new global trends in the food industry, such as new protein sources and foods without trans-fat or with lower sugar or salt content. At the same time, more consumers are seeking foods enriched with nutrients that can improve health and well-being throughout life.

According to the Technical University of Denmark, the guidelines provided by the Danish Veterinary, Food, Agriculture and Fisheries Agency can assist in reducing CO₂ emissions by 35% through a reduction in meat consumption. The potential for adjusting the eating habits of Danes is therefore significant, and a small change in one’s diet can make a considerable difference for the climate.

A new Arla program will help companies reduce their scope 3 emissions while increasing the motivation for on-farm emission reductions.

Many companies are under increasing pressure to successfully reduce their scope 3 emissions to successfully meet the requirements for the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). For many retail and foodservice companies, the dairy industry is responsible for a significant portion of their scope 3 emissions, and as a result are dependent on the sustainability efforts performed by the farmers.

To help motivate the sustainability initiatives on the farms, Arla launched the Climate Check program together with the Sustainability Incentive Model, rewarding Arla farmers that invested in sustainable improvements on their farms. Through large data collection, the farmers are able to successfully earn points and as a result gain additional value per liter of milk produced.

An investment in future emission reductions 

The data collected by Arla, will now be accessible to companies seeking to address their scope 3 emissions. By participating in this collaboration, companies support the acceleration of sustainability initiatives on the Arla farms, leading to further emission reductions. Such reductions are essential to meet the companies’ own SBTi goals and will ultimately be linked to corporate reporting requirements.

A collaborative effort that does not simply benefit the environment but supports companies in reaching their sustainability goals while investing in a more sustainable dairy industry.

The program will first be launched in the UK, before being available in other countries during 2024.

A collaborative effort that benefits the environment and supports companies in reaching their sustainability goals