Vivici boosts fermentation yields with Enduro Genetics tech

Vivici, a precision fermentation startup producing whey protein beta-lactoglobulin (BLG), has reported a 30% increase in titers and yields after integrating technology from Danish company Enduro Genetics into its production strain, according to AgFunderNews.

The improvement marks a significant step in industrial biomanufacturing, where titers measure product concentration per volume and yield reflects efficiency of feedstock conversion into product. The upgrade was achieved without changing existing fermentation infrastructure or increasing feedstock usage, according to the companies.

Enduro Genetics stated that its Enduro Sense platform delivers a “one-time genetic plug-in” that improves strain productivity by ensuring that only high-performing cells dominate the fermentation process. The system addresses a common industry challenge where only a fraction of production cells generate most of the output.

According to Enduro Genetics CEO Christian Munch, in traditional fermentation cultures, only 15–20% of cells become high producers, while the rest consume resources without contributing to output. The technology aims to correct this imbalance by linking essential survival mechanisms to production performance.

Vivici CTO Marcel Wubbolts said the integration enabled “an immediate step-change improvement in performance and by providing enhanced strain stability through the duration of the bioprocess it positions us to pursue even deeper cost optimization through draw-and-fill and continuous fermentation,” according to AgFunderNews.

He added that “the change is more than incremental, and it provides a step up in performance and economics.”

The technology also supports process stability, allowing longer production cycles and potential cost reductions in industrial-scale bioreactors. Enduro Genetics said the system does not alter the production pathway or introduce foreign DNA, which it argues simplifies regulatory considerations in food ingredient applications.

The company explained that its plugin uses native DNA mechanisms to ensure that only high-producing cells survive and proliferate. It also stated that the integration can improve economics by reducing the need for additional or larger bioreactors.

Vivici, formed by Fonterra and DSM-Firmenich in 2022, is scaling precision fermentation to produce dairy proteins for food applications. The company has been expanding its industrial partnerships and production capabilities across Europe and the United States.

Enduro Genetics, a spinout from the Technical University of Denmark, has raised €12 million in Series A funding and is expanding applications of its platform beyond microbial systems into mammalian cells for biopharma use cases.

The collaboration highlights growing industry efforts to improve biomanufacturing efficiency, a key barrier to scaling precision fermentation for mainstream food production. Enduro CEO Munch said the goal is to move the sector beyond niche applications toward more cost-competitive, everyday ingredients.