Acies Bio’s scale-up and biomanufacturing solutions for the production of biologicals

With more than 100 employees and 17 years of experiences in development and production processes in AgBio field, Acies Bio Ltd. (located in Slovenia, EU) is one of the leading R&D companies in microbial biotechnology and precision fermentation. Acies Bio recently upgraded its fermentation plant with additional fermentation capacity and more versatile downstream processing and formulation equipment. With in-depth knowledge and experienced team, Acies Bio is providing scale-up and manufacturing solutions for biofertilizers, biostimulants, and biocontrol agents.

Sustainable farming practices such as organic and regenerative agriculture utilize agricultural microbials, living microorganisms, microbially-produced bioactive compounds, and plant growth promotors to replace traditional chemical-based fertilizers fully or partially as a part of their eco-friendly approach. Agricultural microbials offer several benefits, including higher specificity and a high degree of safety, reducing impact on humans and non-target species (animals, beneficial insects). With characteristics that allow for eco-friendly disposal and production processes based on renewable non-fossil feedstocks, these biologicals further contribute to the overall sustainability and health of crops, aligning perfectly with the principles of sustainable farming.

However, the development and production of new microbial agents can pose significant challenges and financial burdens. After initial tests have confirmed efficacy in greenhouse or field trials, an efficient industrial production process has to be developed and scaled-up. Acies Bio is developing such production processes and goes beyond that by providing optimization of production strains, developing low-cost growth media, and establish optimal fermentation parameters that assure a highly productive, economically feasible production. Finally, a stable formulation of active ingredient must be developed (for example wet, dry, or encapsulated) to assure reproducible and robust performance of the product in the field, long shelf life, and safe and convenient handling procedures for the growers.

For agricultural microbials, these development steps are often very challenging as they are more complex than those of chemical products that companies were used to in the past. Development of agricultural microbials also require specialized expertise in microbiology and bioprocessing that not many companies have. Consequently, great ideas can be abandoned and development of potential microbial products significantly delayed.

Acies Bio, a global leader in biotechnology R&D has recently focused a large part of its activities towards developing, scaling-up, and manufacturing microbial agents for AgBio applications. With a fermentation facility boasting a total fermentation volume of over 35 m³, Acies Bio is equipped to handle a wide range of fermentation volumes, ranging from 1L to 10 m³. Our team of skilled scientists and bioprocess engineers has extensive expertise in working with diverse microbial species, including yeasts, spore-forming Bacilli, Gram-negative bacteria, filamentous bacteria (e.g., Actinomycetes) and fungi (e.g., Trichoderma), and various more exotic microbes. This extensive experience paired with the versatility and technology excellence (including in-house QC and analytical labs) of our fermentation facility and our commitment to offer the production of a myriad of microbial products (either biomass or secondary metabolites as technical-grade active ingredients (TGAI)) makes Acies Bio an ideal R&D partner for the AgBio sector, where achieving high productivity is imperative to maintain favourable costs of goods sold (COGS) in all stages of products’ lifetime.

Acies Bio offers versatile scale-up and biomanufacturing solutions for production of AgBio microbials 

To complement our advanced fermentation capabilities, we possess a versatile downstream processing (DSP) setup. Our expertise encompasses biomass separation techniques, such as centrifugation and filtration, as well as cell disruption, solvent extraction, precipitation, and chromatographic steps for the final purification. Moreover, we specialize in various drying approaches for live microorganisms, including vacuum drying, spray drying, fluid-bed drying, freeze drying, and encapsulation.

Leveraging our profound knowledge of microbial physiology, the Acies Bio team offers unparalleled optimization and execution of final formulations and packaging solutions. We prioritize the delivery of enhanced shelf life, a critical factor for broader market penetration of biological agents.

The transition towards biological agents is crucial for promoting sustainable agriculture practices, safeguarding human health and the environment, and maintaining agricultural productivity in the face of evolving challenges that have been widely recognized by different authorities across the globe, (e.g., EU's Farm to Fork and Biodiversity Strategies and numerous initiatives for Regenerative Agricultural practices). At Acies Bio, we are committed to supporting these initiatives by leveraging our R&D and production expertise in partnerships with leading agriculture companies aiming to increase their sustainability footprint and expand their innovative microbial-based product portfolio.

Contact us at info@aciesbio.com to explore how we can develop and produce your biological agents and drive innovation in the AgBio industry.