Australian startup Cauldron has recently secured AUD 4.3 million (approximately $2.8 million) from the Department of Industry, Science and Resources through its Industry Growth Program (IGP). This funding will significantly bolster Cauldron’s mission to scale a groundbreaking manufacturing platform that enables partners to produce high-value ingredients via precision fermentation more efficiently in a continuous process. This innovative approach could revolutionize the production of ingredients traditionally sourced from animals or petrochemicals, paving the way for a more sustainable food and materials industry.
Cauldron is not alone in its pursuit of innovation; other IGP grant recipients include Forager Automation, which is developing a robotic picking device designed to harvest delicate fresh produce, and Li–S Energy, which is making strides in the development of lithium sulfur batteries that promise to deliver more than twice the energy density of conventional lithium-ion batteries. However, Cauldron’s focus on continuous fermentation sets it apart in the burgeoning field of biomanufacturing.
Operating a 25,000-liter demo-scale facility in New South Wales, Cauldron has developed a continuous fermentation process, termed ‘hyper’ fermentation, which addresses the limitations of traditional batch processes. In conventional fermentation, microbes are cultivated until they reach a critical mass, after which they are prompted to produce a target molecule. This is followed by a lengthy cycle of extraction and cleaning before the process restarts. Cauldron’s innovative method allows for the maintenance of microbes in a productive state, feeding them into ancillary vessels where they can continuously express target molecules. This approach has already proven successful, with the company running a 10,000-liter production system continuously for over eight months without contamination or genetic drift—two significant hurdles in long-term fermentation.
The implications of Cauldron’s technology extend beyond efficiency. By eliminating the need for large fermenters, the company can significantly reduce both variable and fixed costs, resulting in a more economically viable production model. This innovation is particularly timely, as the demand for sustainable and high-quality ingredients continues to rise across various sectors, including food, pharmaceuticals, and specialty chemicals.
To further its ambitions, Cauldron has appointed Dr. David Weiner as Chief Technology Officer. A seasoned veteran in the biotech industry, Weiner brings a wealth of experience from companies such as Solugen, BASF, and Verenium Corp. Based in San Diego, California, he emphasizes the importance of scaling production while keeping costs manageable. “The biggest barrier is the cost of production and being able to scale,” Weiner noted, expressing excitement about unlocking the potential of hyper fermentation to propel the industry forward.
Cauldron’s co-founder, Michele Stansfield, has already made significant strides in establishing partnerships, working with six clients at the demo scale, including companies like Nourish Ingredients, Eden Brew, and ULUU. These collaborations span various applications, from designer fats to animal-free dairy and biomaterials. Stansfield pointed out that they have already achieved a cost per kilo that surpasses traditional 500,000-liter batch fermentation processes, indicating the potential for further optimization.
Looking ahead, Cauldron plans to construct larger facilities in Australia and potentially the United States. Stansfield is actively raising a series B funding round and is exploring opportunities for non-dilutive funding from government sources. She highlighted the need to reduce the cost of goods to between $15 and $20 per kilo to unlock the market for “green premium” proteins, a crucial step for the industry’s growth.
As Cauldron continues to innovate and expand, its advancements in continuous fermentation could serve as a catalyst for a broader shift toward sustainable production methods in the agricultural and biotech sectors, addressing both environmental concerns and the growing demand for high-quality ingredients.