"We need to take Danish biosolutions to the next level"

"This is an ambitious and unique partnership where research, industry, and government work together to create real impact,” says Professor Lars Ottosen, Head of the Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering at Aarhus University. Photo: AU Photo

Researchers at AU Viborg are working on a process that converts CO₂ and hydrogen into protein - a method that may pave the way for food production without farmland and with significantly lower climate impact. Photo: AU Photo.

3 November 2025 by Jesper Bruun Petersen

On Thursday, October 30, Minister for Industry, Business and Financial Affairs Morten Bødskov visited AU Viborg to learn more about a promising technology that could potentially revolutionize the way we produce food. Researchers at AU Viborg are working on a process that converts CO₂ and hydrogen into protein. A method that may pave the way for food production without farmland and with significantly lower climate impact.

The minister brought with him a grant of DKK 23.7 million to establish new test facilities as part of the FAIR project (Food from AIR). The funding is intended to strengthen collaboration between researchers, public authorities, and companies, and to accelerate the journey from idea to scalable technology.

Read more at the Ministry of Industry, Business and Financial Affairs' website (in Danish):
https://www.em.dk/aktuelt/nyheder/2025/okt/millionloeft-til-midtjysk-biosolutions-au-viborg-bliver-kraftcenter-for-groen-innovation

“With this new technology and the support for the FAIR project, we are kickstarting an entirely new value chain within biosolutions. Time is of the essence - we cannot wait for the research to be completed before we act. We are now developing the technology together with companies as we build the industry around it. This is an ambitious and unique partnership where research, industry, and government work together to create real impact,” says Professor Lars Ottosen, Head of the Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering at Aarhus University.

The project has already gained international recognition and is supported by both the Gates Foundation and the Novo Nordisk Foundation. The vision is clear: to create a sustainable food production system that not only reduces climate impact but also helps feed a growing global population.