Menlo Park, California, U.S.A.-based Calysta, which manufactures a bacterial protein fishmeal called FeedKind, has appointed Herman Sloot to serve as the company’s new vice president of commercial development.
Calysta’s FeedKind has gone through multiple trials to determine whether it can serve as an adequate replacement for fishmeal in feed, and so far it has proven effective in yellowtail, salmon, trout, and shrimp. According to Calysta, Sloot’s appointment will help the company target more opportunities outside of aquaculture feed in the pet and human food sectors.
Prior to joining Calysta, Sloot served as the global vice president of fats, proteins, and minerals at collagen protein company Gelita. Calysta said that Sloot will continue to be based in Germany, where Calysta has received approval to use its bacterial proteins in pet food.
“I am thrilled with the challenge. I want to do something that makes a real difference – and Calysta truly is a game-changer,” Sloot said. "It has a technology that addresses one of the biggest challenges in food production: How do we feed the world? It’s been such a big question for the industry for years.”
Calysta previously announced it entered into a joint venture with animal feed additive firm Adisseo in China, with plans to build a new FeedKind plant in Chongqing. According to the company, it is currently putting the “finishing touches” on the joint venture.
“Coming online at the end of the year, the first phase will produce 20,000 [metric tons] of protein per year,” the company said.
Sloot will help the company branch across multiple parts of the food supply sector, Calysta President, CEO, and Co-Founder Alan Shaw said.
“Herman is a really important addition to Calysta’s global team. With Calysseo, we are addressing at scale the opportunity in aquaculture, but our technology can address multiple needs in the food supply chain. Herman’s recruitment is part of our strategy to develop our proposition firstly in the pet food market, then also in human food products,” Shaw said.
Sloot will officially start in the new position on 1 September, 2022.
Photo courtesy of Calysta
