Grant: CCI Applied Research and Development Grants

Comet Bio uses its patented upcycling technology to produce innovative ingredients from crop co-products such as low-glycemic sweeteners and prebiotic and animal feed ingredients. For example, Comet’s Arrabina Arabinoxylan Plant Fiber Extract is a premium prebiotic dietary fiber with superior tolerability and functionality. Arrabina is clinically proven to promote healthy gut bacteria growth, help maintain healthy blood glucose levels, and support immunity. The proposed approach of the project connects points along Comet’s continued growth and development trajectory, namely: evaluation of new low-cost Canadian feedstocks in support of future production and extension of the health benefits of Arrabina as well as next-generation prebiotic products in support of meeting client demand and increasing revenues. In collaboration with Lambton College, Comet seeks to: (1) Evaluate pea processing co-products as feedstocks for conversion to sweeteners and prebiotics, (2) Develop new pea co-products to sweeteners and prebiotics production process using enzyme recycling, (3) Determine phenolic and polyphenolic content of pea residue after conversion to products, and (4) Determine the effect of experimentally derived sweeteners, phenolics, and polyphenolics on the probiotic Akkermansia muciniphila. The successful results will inform the scale-up of Comet’s process in partnership with a Saskatchewan pea processor within two years of project completion. It is anticipated that the success of this project will lead to job creation of 60 operations and research, design, and construction employees to support full-scale plant implementation for a ~$50-100MM plant in Saskatchewan. This project will also significantly increase the competitiveness of the process developed by Comet by optimizing enzyme consumption and reducing one of the most significant economic cost drivers.