From basic research to factory in less than a year

Research from the University of Copenhagen, by three of IGM’s associate professors Keld Ejdrup Andersen , Jens Chr Sørensen and Hilmer Sørensen, forms the basis for establishing a plant protein factory in the small town of Videbæk, between Ringkøbing and Herning in western Jutland. 

 

 

The University of Copenhagen has entered a licensing deal with the Jutlandic grain and feed company Agrokorn Inc, based on an invention from LIFE – The Faculty of Life Sciences. 

    

The researchers have developed a method to produce high-value protein, which can be extracted from soy beans and Danish grown legumes. The high quality of the proteins makes them well suited to use in foods and feed for animal with special feed quality demands.

 

 

Following the patenting of the method, University of Copenhagen and Agrokorn Inc entered a licensing deal and established a development partnership.  

“Vi have a fruitful cooperation with the University of Copenhagen, where their research and competencies in the area combined with Agrokorn’s competencies in selling proteins have given a 2+2=5 synergy effect as a result. A result which is promising for Agrokorn, but also for Danish agriculture, employment and exporting of high-value products.”
                    ^{- Agrokorn’s vice CEO: Niels Jørgen H Madsen}  

The cooperation started in 2009, when Agrokorn Inc contacted the research group at IGM – the Departments of Basic Sciences and Environment, to have analytical methods developed to validate existing methods for production of soy proteins.

 

The researchers had by then already extensive experience with protein production and had developed a new concept, which was been patented with support from the university’s Tech Trans office. The initial contact quickly materialized into a joint wish of further developing the teamwork. 

 

The researchers new ideas and knowledge of plant proteins and process treatment combined with Agrokorn’s visions for Danish plant proteins became the start of an up-scaling to industrial production. In April 2011 Agrokorn Inc decided to build a factory in Jutland for production of high-value protein. 
 
Contact info:

• University of Copenhagen, Research and Innovation, Tech Trans Office, Niels Engelhard, email: , phone +45 28 75 63 30
• Agrokorn Inc. Vice manager, Niels Jørgen Madsen, email , phone +45 40 30 50 01

 

 

[Translated by Jesper Cairo Westergaard from the original article in Danish by Cecilie Toudal Pedersen, ]