“We are turning an environmental challenge into an economic and nutritional opportunity, positively impacting the planet, the feed industry, and future food security.”
Sigita Matuleviciute, Marketing Manager, Greentech Innovators
Bergen based, Greentech Innovators was co-founded in 2018 by CEO, Ingmar Høgøy, as a result of his dedication, passion and a lifelong interest for aquaculture and waste management. Working closely with national and international experts, research communities and industry partners, Greentech Innovators lead the way in identifying sustainable solutions within the circular bio-economy and food waste management.
The venture’s core focus is to transform global food waste into valuable bio-resources, advancing the circular bio-economy through cutting-edge biotechnology.
Greentech Innovators operate at the junction of environmental impact and industrial innovation. Following a 3-steps process, they first collect food waste with the assistance of a local renovation company and transport it to a nearby processing facility. Then, advanced enzymatic and physical treatments are applied: carbohydrates in the waste are broken down into sugar, while proteins are converted into peptides and amino acids, making them water-soluble. Finally, the resulting nutrient-rich substrate is used as a growth medium for cultivating beneficial microbes, including microalgae, lactic acid bacteria, and fungi.
As Sigita Matuleviciute, Marketing Manager of the company explains: “By leveraging advanced biotechnology, we release essential nutrients from food waste and transform them into an enriched growth medium optimized for cultivating beneficial microbes such as microalgae, lactic acid bacteria, and fungi. These microbes are then processed into sustainable, high-value ingredients, including protein and omega-3 fatty acids, for use in aquaculture and livestock feed.”
Unlike traditional composting or energy recovery, Greentech Innovators’ proprietary bioprocess -developed through years of scientific research and testing- maximizes nutrient bioavailability while ensuring microbial culture efficiency. In doing so, it turns food waste from environmental liability into an economically attractive input. This approach enables feed producers to meet the rising global demand for sustainable ingredients without compromising on cost or performance.
Greentech Innovators stand out for their measurable environmental, economic and societal outcomes. The key ways through which the venture creates impact include:
Reducing Food Waste and Closing the Nutrient Loop: The company upcycles food waste that would otherwise be discarded or used for low-value purposes, unlocking its hidden nutrients and reintegrating them into the food chain. This contributes to a circular bioeconomy and helps reduce landfill use and methane emissions.
Sustainable Protein and Omega-3 Production: By cultivating microalgae, lactic acid bacteria, and fungi as alternative sources of protein and omega-3, Greentech Innovators provide a sustainable substitute for fishmeal and fish oil, thereby reducing pressure on marine ecosystems and overfishing.
Lowering the Environmental Footprint of Animal Feed: The venture’s biotechnological process minimizes the carbon footprint of feed production compared to conventional sources like soy or wild-caught fish, helping mitigate deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions.
Supporting Global Food Security: By delivering cost-effective, nutrient-rich feed ingredients, Greentech Innovators help improve the efficiency and sustainability of aquaculture and livestock production, contributing to a more stable and resilient global food supply.
Greentech Innovators was selected to join D2XCEL in February 2025. Reflecting on the experience, Sigita emphasized the importance of mentoring support that the company received: “Mentoring sessions have helped us a lot by providing strategic guidance to improve our business model and market positioning, and to refine our business model story for investment, and that led us to a new strategy”.
Grounded in scientific and technological innovation and strengthened by years of research and hundreds of trials, the case of Greentech Innovators demonstrates how biotechnology can unlock new value streams from food waste. Its journey serves as a strong example of how circular bio-economy solutions can drive sustainability, reduce environmental impact, and inspire further innovation in waste valorisation.
*Note:
Our case studies section illustrates the concrete impact of the D2XCEL scaling programme on selected ventures. They were chosen through a structured process based on mentor and group manager nominations and pre-defined criteria, prioritising companies that demonstrated measurable progress, strong relevance to societal and industrial challenges, innovative approaches, and clear potential for scalability. Together, the cases demonstrate how tailored support, international connections, and structured mentoring are translated into real outcomes across diverse sectors.
This project has received funding from the European Union under grant agreement Nº101121100. Views and opinions expressed are, however, those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.