The global market for alternative proteins is growing rapidly. For many, they are a key component of a sustainable diet. According to forecasts, the market will quadruple to almost 75 billion US dollars by 2037. One reason for this development is that agriculture is suffering from climate change, scarce resources and political uncertainties. This is where the Berlin-based start-up OrbiFarm, a subsidiary of Veganz Group AG, comes in: With a novel indoor farming system, the company aims to revolutionise plant production – and it seems to be working.

More yield with less space

Using a high-tech indoor cultivation process, the company produces plant proteins and medically relevant plants more efficiently, in a more controlled manner and more sustainably – regardless of climate, soil quality or weather conditions. To do this, the company uses the patented OrbiLoop® and OrbiPlant® technologies. This allows plants such as peas, quinoa, hemp and tobacco to be cultivated in a small space for insulin production. In technical jargon, this is referred to as ‘molecular pharming’. This term describes genetically modified plants that are used as a production platform for dietary supplements and medicines, among other things.

The potential is almost surreal: initial trials with pea plants at the Fraunhofer Institute show yields up to 36 times higher than in conventional outdoor cultivation. And that with controlled quality, high reproducibility and maximum efficiency. This is made possible by vertical cultivation systems and precise control of light, water, CO₂ and nutrients – modelled on the bioreactors used in modern food technology.

More protein, fewer resources

What OrbiFarm is developing is more than just a technological gimmick. It is a possible answer to the question: How can we feed a growing world population with scarce resources?

In addition to increasing productivity on existing farmland, indoor farming or urban farming will play a key role: standardised, weather-independent, space-saving – and also ideal for producing vegetables or salads within so-called megacities or for manufacturing cosmetic products in climatically difficult regions. The combination of exclusive patents, biological seed rights and a clear focus on licensing makes OrbiFarm a prime example of research-based innovation in the food sector. However, many technologies – such as precision fermentation and cell cultures – still need to pass the test of large-scale industrial production.

The example of the German start-up also shows how important patents and research are for progress and innovation. As a record holder for patents, Switzerland can benefit from such models. To ensure that this remains the case, open framework conditions for new technologies will continue to be needed in the future. After all, only patents can protect innovations and fuel progress.

However, a countervailing trend is increasingly evident: bans on new breeding technologies and excessively strict application of the precautionary principle are slowing down innovation and investment. This trend jeopardises Switzerland's international competitiveness and weakens its role as a centre of innovation in the long term.

It is high time that politicians sent a clear signal: ‘An innovation offensive in the food and nutrition sector is needed,’ wrote various experts in the NZZ newspaper back in 2021. Similar to the Digital Switzerland strategy adopted by the Federal Council in September 2018, the agri-food tech sector, with all its opportunities for greater sustainability and economic success, could also be placed at the centre of political strategies. However, this requires improving the framework conditions for forward-looking technologies, for example in the field of modern plant breeding or biotechnology in general, including in the food sector. This is the only way to pave the way for real progress in sustainable food production.