Bioalbumen Precision-Fermented Egg Protein

Onego Bio is a Finnish-U.S. food ingredient company that makes egg protein through precision fermentation. It targets food manufacturers, which use a large share of eggs for industrial processing and face price swings and supply shocks from avian influenza.

Its product Bioalbumen is ovalbumin, the main protein in egg white, produced by fermenting sugar with the fungus Trichoderma reesei; the company describes it as the first non-animal egg protein with an amino acid sequence identical to the natural protein. Bioalbumen has received an FDA 'no questions' letter on its GRAS status and is offered as a powder for baked goods and other egg-containing foods. Production currently runs at co-manufacturers, with a U.S. commercial office in San Diego and a planned flagship plant in Wisconsin.

• Bioalbumen powder: non-animal ovalbumin ingredient for food manufacturers.
• Identical sequence: amino acid sequence identical to natural egg ovalbumin.
• Trichoderma reesei platform: industrial fungal host used for precision fermentation.
• Complete protein: positioned as a complete, easy-to-integrate protein ingredient.
• Application support: test kitchen and quality lab at the San Diego commercial office.
• Scale-up roadmap: co-manufacturing today and a flagship Wisconsin facility planned for 2028.

• Industrial bakeries in Vietnam replacing part of liquid or powdered egg white in cakes and cookies.
• Breakfast and snack manufacturers making high-protein waffles or bars.
• Food ingredient distributors offering an egg alternative that is free from animal inputs to vegan and allergen-conscious brands.

• Full egg functionality: designed to match egg protein in taste, nutrition and functional performance.
• Supply and price stability: independent of flock size and avian influenza outbreaks.
• Lower footprint: the company's 2024 LCA reports 95% less land, 72% lower greenhouse gas emissions and 89% less water than conventional eggs.
• Regulatory clearance: FDA 'no questions' letter on GRAS status in the U.S.

Repeated avian influenza outbreaks have made egg prices volatile, and food manufacturers want stable, traceable protein supply. Precision-fermented egg proteins allow bakeries and processed food makers to keep functionality while reducing exposure to poultry supply risks, a concern also shared by egg-importing markets in Asia.

Described on its site as a Finnish-U.S. company (Onego Bio Ltd, Finland) with a U.S. commercial headquarters in San Diego. Funding includes a EUR 10 million seed round, USD 40 million Series A and a further EUR 14 million round, plus a USD 2 million U.S. Department of Defense award. Winner of Fast Company's 2023 World Changing Ideas (Food). Partners include Zen Waffles, Sigma Foods and Perfect Day.