MicroHarvest strengthens leadership as it prepares to scale protein production. The biotechnology company has appointed co-CEOs and is developing a 15,000-tonne production facility in Germany.
Hamburg-based MicroHarvest has introduced a new leadership structure to scale production of its fermented proteins and expand into international markets. Co-founders Katelijne Bekers and Jonathan Roberz will jointly serve as co-CEOs. Bekers will focus on commercial expansion, while Roberz will oversee strategic execution and production scale-up in Europe.
Luísa Cruz, the third co-founder, will continue as Chief Technology Officer (CTO), leading technology development and contributing to the company’s strategic direction. Jan-Philipp Birke, formerly Head of Operations, has been appointed Chief Operating Officer (COO). Justus Reich, previously Head of Finance, will now be Chief Financial Officer (CFO).
This new structure aims to separate two key priorities: expanding commercial demand across markets and regions, and developing the European production capacity required to meet that demand. The company is developing its first company-owned production facility in Germany’s Leipzig-Halle region, with completion scheduled for the end of 2028. This facility is designed to produce 15,000 tonnes annually.
“This plant is what will take us from shipping tons to kilotons, the scale needed to serve large feed mills,” Bekers told Aquafeed.com. “In the meantime, we’re already supplying customers with both our single-cell protein MPX BOOST and our specialty ingredient HILIX® through a contract manufacturer, and we’re seeing initial launches turn into repeat orders.”
Beyond the German facility, MicroHarvest aims to increase production volumes tenfold and establish regional manufacturing operations in Southeast Asia and South America. The company views these regions as opportunities to bring production closer to customers, improve supply reliability, and support greater adoption of alternatives to fishmeal.
Aquaculture Trials Support Expansion
The company is also advancing research into the application of its single-cell protein MPX BOOST in aquaculture feeds. A recent trial conducted by Nofima demonstrated that MPX BOOST can replace fishmeal one-to-one while offering additional health benefits. This trial was presented at Aquaculture Europe 2026 in Ljubljana.
Building on these findings, MicroHarvest plans to conduct field trials next season with feed manufacturers, farmers, and integrators. In shrimp, trials with ShrimpVet showed that including MPX BOOST at 5% of the diet improved weight gain and feed conversion ratio. These trials also showed improved survival following an Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei (EHP) challenge.
MicroHarvest produces its proteins through biomass fermentation, converting regional agri-food side streams into protein within 24 hours. Its proteins are approved in the European Union for aquaculture and pet food applications. These products are already incorporated into items sold at more than 1,800 retail locations in Germany. The company is also finalizing product registrations and beginning sales in several markets outside Europe.
“Everything we’ve achieved so far has been made possible by an outstanding team that is strong across every part of the business,” said Jonathan Roberz, co-founder and co-CEO of MicroHarvest. “With that team, we’re now building the European production base that will support our next stage. My focus will be on strong execution as we scale up while maintaining the pace that has brought us this far.”
