On-site biorefinery systems for agricultural & food processing byproducts

Cocoa husks, grape pomace, bakery dough waste, and dairy byproducts represent billions of dollars in annual losses for food and agricultural processors, costs absorbed as an inevitable liability. Symbio Bioculinary converts these sidestreams into food-grade revenue. What it is: Symbio deploys modular, on-site bioprocess systems that use engineered Aspergillus oryzae to sequentially extract high-value outputs from food and agricultural byproducts. Systems are co-located at client facilities, eliminating hauling costs and perishability constraints.

Case study (modeled): A single large-scale cocoa processor generates ~7,300 tonnes of shell a year. Our techno-economic model shows Symbio's integrated biorefinery converting that stream into an estimated $43.5M/year in product revenue, with a modeled ROI of 58%/year and a 1.7-year payback. How it works: Sidestreams undergo rapid biomass reduction, enzymatic extraction and bioconversion using engineered Aspergillus oryzae as whole-cell factories. Outputs are produced to food-grade specifications. Proof to date: 1,000L pilot system for a commercial bakery partner, scheduled for on-site deployment in November 2026; project pipeline across chocolate, wine, and bakery. Next steps: Seeking capital partners and offtake relationships to accelerate commercial deployments across North America's cocoa shell stream and beyond.