Vivici, The Every Co to Set Up Large Animal-Free Protein Factory in Abu Dhabi
Precision fermentation startups Vivici and The Every Company have partnered with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office to establish an industrial-scale facility for their novel proteins.
Animal-free dairy and egg proteins are set to be produced on a mass scale in the Emirati capital, following the signing of a key public-private partnership.
The Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), the funding arm of the local government, is collaborating with Dutch firm Vivici and US startup The Every Company to explore the establishment of an industrial-scale precision fermentation facility with a four-million-litre capacity. It will also support the creation of a regulatory framework for novel proteins.
The strategic alliance is part of ADIO’s AgriFood Growth and Water Abundance (AGWA) cluster, which was launched last year to boost food security and combat water scarcity with advanced technologies, such as the production of alternative protein ingredients.
“By partnering with global leaders in fermented proteins, we are catalysing an entirely new industry for the region, one that delivers high-quality nutrition, attracts investment and creates skilled jobs,” said AGWA head Fatima Al Dhaheri.
New facility to be designed with future partnerships in mind
Precision fermentation marries traditional fermentation with the latest advances in biotechnology. The process involves inserting DNA into microbes and instructing them to produce specific molecules when fermented.
Vivici uses the technology to produce whey proteins, starting with beta-lactoglobulin, but without the cow. It’s a complete protein with gelling, foaming and binding properties, making it suitable for use in a vast range of CPG products. The protein emits 68% less CO2 and 86% less water than conventional whey, and has been cleared for sale in the US.
The Every Co, meanwhile, makes chicken-free egg white proteins and has commercialised two ingredients in the US (along with regulatory clearance for animal-free pepsin). These have appeared in smoothies, hard juices, matcha, coffee syrups, and even on the menu of three-Michelin-starred restaurant Eleven Madison Park.
Speaking to Green Queen earlier this year, The Every Co co-founder and CEO Arturo Elizondo said the firm’s core focus for 2025 was on “expanding manufacturing capacity to meet customer demand”.
The partnership with Vivici and ADIO builds on that. They will focus on designing, financing and commercialising a facility that meets the highest food safety and Halal certification standards. It is intended to be multi-tenanted, so that other fermented protein firms can join in the future.
In addition, the three entities will explore export opportunities through the UAE’s Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements, enhancing Abu Dhabi’s role as a strategic gateway to high-growth markets in Asia, Africa and Europe.
“The UAE and wider region stand to benefit tremendously from protein independence, and we’re excited to support ADIO and our partners to build this ecosystem in Abu Dhabi and demonstrate how cutting-edge biotechnology can be deployed at scale to transform global food systems,” said Elizondo.
“Abu Dhabi offers the right ecosystem to accelerate this ambition, combining supportive regulation, global market access, and a strong innovation culture.”
Partnership will drive talent development and regulatory clarity
Stephan van Sint Fiet, CEO of Vivici, said: “The emirate provides a unique combination of capital, talent and infrastructure that enables rapid growth while ensuring the highest standards of safety and quality. Together with ADIO and our partners, we will help establish Abu Dhabi as a hub for next-generation food innovation.”
ADIO called the partnership “a significant milestone” for the AGWA cluster, which seeks to meet increasing global demand for food and water, alleviate pressures on agricultural systems, and address shifting dietary patterns. It’s set to contribute Dhs 90 billion ($24.5B) in additional GDP to the city’s economy and create 60,000 new jobs by 2045, with an expected investment of Dhs 128 billion ($34.8B).
Anchoring a state-of-the-art domestic fermented protein facility will contribute to food resilience and expand Abu Dhabi’s presence in global protein supply chains, the investment office said. The capital is also home to the UAE’s first exclusively plant-based meat production plant, owned by Switch Foods.
In addition to the facility, the partnership will seek to work with local universities, research institutions and training providers to drive talent development and build a skilled national workforce.
“Abu Dhabi is building a resilient food ecosystem rooted in science and sustainability,” said Al Dhaheri. “This collaboration is a clear signal of our commitment to technologies that generate long-term economic value.”
The project will contribute to the UAE’s strategy to become the world’s most food-secure nation by 2051 – currently, it relies heavily on food imports to meet 90% of its population’s needs. It will enable lower-emission food production too, though the country’s heavy reliance on oil and gas (and its plan to expand this capacity) must be addressed as a priority.
The partnership with Vivici and The Every Company will further help establish clear pathways for the regulatory clearance of precision-fermented proteins in the UAE and across the region. In similar news reported by Green Queen, Israeli startup Aleph Farms is planning to file for approval of its cultivated beef in the UAE.