A Queens University Belfast spinout has secured £800,000 of funding to roll out production of its plant-based animal feed supplement.
Aramune Technologies will use the investment to develop an industrial-scale process to manufacture its plant-derived feed.
It can be mixed with standard animal feed to replace antimicrobial agents, boosting the immune system and natural resistance to bacterial infection and minimising antimicrobial resistance.
Aimed primarily at the monogastric commercial livestock sector – such as pigs and poultry – where it reduces mortality and improves performance, Aramune also improves the health of pets.
The latest round of funding has been backed by a syndicate of investors which includes QUBIS, the commercialisation arm of Queen’s University; Co-Fund NI (managed by Clarendon Fund Managers); the QUBIS Innovation Fund (managed by Sapphire Capital Partners) and a local private investor.
“We are delighted to have secured this funding from local investors who are committed to supporting Queen’s spin-out ventures and the local economy,” Ashley Cooper, CEO, said. “With this funding we are now well placed to rapidly exploit the very many commercial applications of our proprietary Aramune compound.”
It comes after Aramune secured £300,000 of funding from Innovate UK last year, while also taking the regional title of the InterTradeIreland Seedcorn investor readiness competition.
“This investment is a vote of confidence in the commercial potential of our research, and it follows on from Aramune’s recent successes,” Brian Green, Chief Scientific Officer of Aramune Technologies, said.
He said the funding will be used to grow their source plants, industrially scale their extraction process and also undertake more commercial trials.
“We are delighted to be able to invest into Aramune Technologies and back its experienced management team as part of this seed investment round,” Stuart Gaffikin, Investment Manager from Clarendon Fund Managers, said. “We look forward to playing our role in supporting the company as it develops and commercialises its natural, plant-based products for use in animal health and nutraceuticals.”
