Zymofix Invests 6 Million Euros in Its First Industrial Production Facility

The Belgian biotech company Zymofix is building its first industrial production facility for microbial products in Deinze, near Ghent. The company is investing six million euros in the first phase of expansion. Funding comes partly from the previously completed Series A round and partly from revenue generated by existing customer projects. Starting in the fourth quarter of 2027, the facility is expected to reach a production capacity of 300 metric tons per year. Zymofix is already planning a further expansion phase worth 25 million euros for 2028.

From Pilot Project to Industrial Production

For the company, founded in 2022, the new location marks the transition from technology development and pilot testing to industrial production. According to the company, Zymofix has successfully validated its Zyft fermentation platform on a pilot scale. At the same time, customer demand has now exceeded existing production capacities.

In the coming months, therefore, the first operations are to be relocated to the new site in Deinze. The facility is intended to enable larger production volumes for existing customers as well as create capacity for additional projects. Zymofix is backed by investors including First Imagine!, VP Capital, HTGF, and The Nest Family Office. First Imagine! had led the previous Series A funding round.

300 metric tons starting in late 2027

In the first phase of expansion, the facility is expected to reach an annual capacity of 300 metric tons. According to the company, this volume is sufficient to support applications across approximately one million hectares. Production is scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of 2027.

If the plant is successfully commissioned, Zymofix plans to scale up to the next level as early as 2028. An additional 25 million euros is then to be invested in expanding the facility. This could increase annual capacity to 2,000 metric tons, which, according to the company, would enable applications on approximately ten million hectares. However, the second investment phase is contingent upon the successful commissioning of the first production line.

An Alternative to Liquid Fermentation

The technological core of Zymofix is the Zyft platform. It is based on so-called solid-state fermentation, in which microorganisms are cultivated under controlled conditions on solid substrates. The process is said to offer particular advantages for microorganisms that cannot be optimally produced via conventional liquid fermentation.

Zymofix views this as a long-standing hurdle to the commercialization of microbial products. Identifying a suitable microorganism is only part of the challenge; it must then also be possible to produce it reproducibly, cost-effectively, and in industrial quantities. According to the company, over 170 strains of bacteria, fungi, and yeasts have already been tested on Zyft.

Agriculture is the primary focus

Zymofix is currently working with 15 customers. A major focus is on agriculture. According to the company, the majority of its customers are multinational suppliers of agricultural inputs. Applications include biostimulants, biofertilizers, and biological crop protection products. In addition, Zymofix sees potential applications in bioremediation and other industrial uses.

Zymofix positions itself as a production partner for other companies and supports their products from process development through fermentation and formulation to scaling up.

Team to Grow to 60 Employees

As production capacity grows, so does the workforce. Zymofix currently employs around 35 people. By the end of 2026, the number is expected to reach about 45, and by the end of 2027, around 60 employees. With the new factory, the company is now poised to take the decisive step toward industrialization. The pilot validation must be translated into a stable production process with reproducible quality and competitive costs.