NovelYeast

NovelYeast is a Belgian spin-off company from the research group of Prof. Johan Thevelein at VIB/KU Leuven. It is an R&D company focussed on a variety of applications with yeast. It aims to exploit its extensive knowledge and technical know-how with yeast research and the many industrial applications of yeast for the development and commercial implementation of superior industrial yeast strains and associated industrial processes. NovelYeast develops yeast strains for the production of biofuels (1G and 2G ethanol and isobutanol with sugar cane and corn feedstocks), bio-based chemicals (lactic acid, 2,3-butanediol), healthy sugar and protein sweeteners, meat-replacing plant proteins, single cell protein, alcoholic beverages, nutraceuticals, probiotics, plastic recycling and other applications in which yeast or yeast-attached enzymes can be applied beneficially. NovelYeast also engages in R&D services for the utilization of yeast as a tool in industrial biotechnology, as well as for medical (Warbicin® anti-cancer compounds) and agroindustrial applications. A major focus of the company is the development of enzyme-secreting second-generation yeast (Cellusec® yeast strains) and on-site cellulolytic enzyme generation for the production of ethanol and isobutanol with lignocellulosic biomass (e.g. sugar cane bagasse, waste paper/cardboard, side streams from the forest industry). A second major focus is the development of specific engineered yeast strains for the production of several healthy sugar and protein sweeteners with pure sugar feedstocks and with side streams from the food industry. NovelYeast has 9 employees and collaboration projects with companies worldwide.