Cemvita announced two major breakthroughs that showcase its leadership in building a circular bioeconomy. The company increased the productivity of its FermOil™ microorganism six months early. This milestone was achieved using crude glycerol from biodiesel industries. The improvement boosts FermWorks™, Cemvita’s biomanufacturing plant, making it more scalable and cost-effective.
“This productivity milestone is a big part of how we continue to make industrial biotech cheaper and faster,” said Moji Karimi, CEO and co-founder of Cemvita.
In parallel, third-party tests revealed that FermNPK™, a soil bio-stimulant co-product, possesses outstanding properties for soil health and regeneration. It supplies essential nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, along with micronutrients and organic compounds like carbohydrates and proteins, which support soil microbial life and biodiversity.
FermNPK™ is a valuable tool for regenerative agriculture, capable of restoring degraded, desertic soils while reducing reliance on synthetic fertilizers. Cemvita emphasizes sustainability beyond carbon reduction. It applies planetary boundaries to guide product development, reducing land use, water footprint, and biodiversity loss.
FermOil™ offers a low-carbon alternative for sustainable aviation fuel. Made from industrial waste like glycerol, it eliminates the need for land and freshwater. These innovations strengthen Cemvita’s waste-to-value platform and position the company for sustainability incentives. These include tax credits, carbon markets, and subsidies.
“Cemvita’s commitment to sustainability is shaped in no small part by the leadership of our Chief Science and Sustainability Officer,” said Tara Karimi. “When we talk about sustainability at Cemvita, we don’t stop at carbon. Our products are designed with the whole planet in mind—from the microbes we engineer to the ecosystems we aim to heal. That’s the power of biology when it’s done right.”
The progress in both FermOil™ and FermNPK™ not only derisks the FermWorks™ project but also signals viability of a new model for industrial-scale, waste-to-value biomanufacturing.
