The fields of synthetic biology and precision fermentation are hotbeds of entrepreneurial activity today. But it's not every day that you come across a start-up company that uses genetic engineering to produce natural rubber. Natural rubber is a material that is difficult to reproduce in the laboratory due to its long polymers.
Paris-based baCta has initiated and is running a proof of concept to produce natural rubber in vitro using engineered bacteria (E. coli). The company claims its method, which relies on renewable raw materials (currently using glucose but aiming to diversify into acetate and carbon), is carbon neutral.
The startup has just raised 3.3 million euros (about $3.6 million at current exchange rates) so it can move on to its next challenge. It's about figuring out how to industrialize lab-based processes and move the world away from producing milligrams of raw materials. Other companies need much more of that rubber to make their own products.
Natural rubber that does not grow on trees
Approximately half of the world's rubber is synthetic rubber (that is, derived from petroleum). The other half (natural rubber) is extracted from the latex-containing sap of the Hevea tree. Neither route is better from a sustainability perspective. Natural rubber may sound environmentally friendly, but when land is cleared to build Hevea plantations, it can lead to deforestation.
At the same time, the introduction of emissions reporting regulations and other regulations are forcing manufacturers in Europe and elsewhere to find ways to reduce their carbon footprint. Therefore, there should be a clear incentive to switch to bioengineered versions of natural rubber if the raw material supply is more environmentally friendly and the product price is competitive.
BaCta CEO and founder Mathieu Nohet is confident that the startup, which was only founded in January 2024, can scale up production of biosynthetic natural rubber.
He also believes that the approach, which includes, as he describes it, “synthetic AI enzyme technology that basically removes the scientific barriers and allows for the polymerization of rubber within bacteria,” will help it compete compared to traditional products. We believe we can achieve a competitive price range. While significantly reducing CO2 emissions.
“Having this polymerization mechanism inside the cell allows us to be much more efficient in terms of yield and ultimately in terms of cost per kilogram. So if we can do a mixotrophic approach, [i.e. feedstock diversification]In fact, we could compete with products at today's prices. ”
“We are testing acetate [as a feedstock] We are also looking to fix carbon directly within the cells to increase yields and reduce costs and carbon impact. [Natural rubber] It has such a huge impact on carbon that we could actually remove hundreds of millions of tons of CO2 from the atmosphere. [are] success. “
Initially, baCta's go-to-market strategy targeted luxury fashion/apparel brands that did not require large amounts of raw materials, i.e. use cases such as luxury shoes and bags. Once production ramps up, the company will aim to expand into more industrial applications, such as rubber parts for vibration damping in machinery.
“The goal is to scale,” he says. “We try it in fermenters first, basically take it out of the lab, and then we experiment on a pilot scale. So we create, say, 100 to 200 liters of culture, and then we give larger batches to potential customers. We will be able to provide it.”
Nohet said the startup hopes to reach pilot scale within 18 months. “Then we'll raise another round to get to pre-industrial scale,” he says.
BaCta's pre-seed round was led by OVNI Capital, with participation from another.vc, Kima Ventures, Sharpstone Capital, and “prominent” business angels including Thibaud Elziere, members of the Hexa team, and co-founder Nicolas Moerin. . Gourmet.
Noette confirmed that the company's natural rubber is produced through genetic engineering, which removes certain proteins in the sap that can cause allergies. This means that biosynthetic natural rubber has the added benefit of being marketed as hypoallergenic.
The company also has plans to expand beyond rubber production in the future. The company wants to apply an approach to achieve carbon-neutral production of isoprenoids, a family of compounds derived from the monomers of rubber polymers, which have many applications in various fields. such as industrial production and pharmaceutical production.
However, the company is particular about natural rubber first.
“Rubber has the advantage that so many people use it for so many different purposes,” he points out. “So it actually allows for a continuum of market entry, starting with very high-end customers and moving toward more of a mass market. Plus, it's very common, well-known, and understandable. So we think it's easier to get people on board with the mission if we have the first product that everyone knows.”