What is the LyteGro Project?
LyteGro supplies microbial growth enhancers to the chemical, diagnostic, pharmaceutical, and food and drink industries – a project that has a truly disruptive edge. At its core, the project makes BacLyte, an organic extract of waste bananas which sends bacteria and yeast crazy… It is a simple organic supplement designed to be added to existing processes or products, improving the performance and yield of industrial processes such as fermentation. There are reports that 1.4 million edible bananas are thrown away daily in the UK, amounting to 83,000 tons of avoidable waste; this waste feedstock is cleverly repurposed into a potent microbial growth enhancer, offering both environmental and economic benefits.
Main Benefits
BacLyte brings a bundle of advantages to various industries – here is a quick list of key figures and facts:
- 1.4 million edible bananas thrown away daily in the UK.
- 83,000 tons of avoidable waste bananas are repurposed.
- Production levels increased by 250% in scale-up trials.
- Process yield improvements: up to a 60% increase or halving of process time in anaerobic digestion.
- Fully granted European and US patents with national phase patent applications pending in 62 countries.
Core Technology
BacLyte is the star of this innovative technology – a novel and highly potent microbial growth enhancer developed by Professor Mark Lyte at Texas Tech University. In simple, everyday language, BacLyte enables industries to grow microbes faster and cheaper while improving overall product yield and purity in microbially driven processes. The production process itself is delightfully straightforward – using the pulp of black bananas and water, BacLyte is produced by mixing, heating, and some clever filtration. This no-nonsense approach has brought about an advancement in fermentation and microbial biomass production, and it is already making a significant impact in sectors ranging from biofuel production to pharmaceutical research.
Industrial Applications
The versatility of BacLyte is evident in its wide range of applications. Microbes have been used since civilization started producing beers, yoghurts, cheeses, bread, and pickles – and today they extend their utility to enzymes, medicines, high-value chemicals, and biofuels. The most economically important microbes include Saccharomyces (Yeast), Bacillus, Lactic Acid Bacteria (LABs), and E.coli. With BacLyte, industries improve not only fermentation efficiency but also the purity and overall yield of the production process. This technological advance is pivotal in areas such as distilling, R&D and diagnostics, recombinant protein/vaccine production, as well as the production of yeast and probiotic biomass – demonstrating just how far-reaching the benefits of optimized microbial growth can be.
Sustainability & Circular Economy
At the heart of the LyteGro venture lies a strong commitment to sustainability and the circular economy. By producing BacLyte from what would otherwise be waste bananas, the technology not only prevents edible produce from ending up in landfills, but it also turns waste into a valuable revenue stream for local farmers. Local production plants in banana-growing countries are envisioned to provide additional income to farmers, prevent loss due to unsalable waste, and reduce transportation costs and pollution. Such a circular approach supports greener processes, helping industries reduce their water and energy footprints and offering a practical solution to managing organic waste in an environmentally friendly way… It is a win-win for both industry and nature.
Achievements and Recognition
The impact of LyteGro extends beyond just technology and sustainability – its social and economic achievements have earned recognition. Selected as one of the UK’s most sustainable start-up companies, the project was featured in the “300 Years of Leadership and Innovation” publication, commissioned by the History of Parliament Trust and the royal publishers St James’s House. Furthermore, winning the Tech For Good “Clean Energy Strategies Reimagined Challenge” demonstrated the project’s capacity to provide innovative solutions in the green energy field – specifically through the use of BacLyte in reducing process time and enhancing yields in bio-ethanol and biogas production. Grants such as the Sustainable Innovation Fund in 2021 have further validated the efficiency gains, including a 250% boost in production levels when applied to alcohol fermentation processes across diverse feedstocks.
Project Impact
- Improved fermentation efficiency, reducing the water demand of traditional processes.
- Enhanced yields in biofuel production, including anaerobic digestion and bioethanol creation.
- Support for local communities via additional revenue streams for farmers in banana-growing countries.
- Greater energy efficiency and reduced water and energy footprints in bio-based processes.
- Notable potential in minimizing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across several industries.
Future Prospects
Looking forward, the trajectory of the LyteGro initiative is both ambitious and inspiring. As international sales grow and the technology continues to demonstrate its efficacy across countless industries, there is exciting potential to extend collaborations with governments and companies in banana-growing regions. The plan is to establish local waste banana processing plants that streamline the production of BacLyte and other products, cutting transportation costs and further reducing environmental impact. This will create a dynamic ecosystem where even damaged bananas, often unsalable but still valuable, contribute to bio-based process improvements. With further research, development, and a continual emphasis on sustainable practices, LyteGro is set to pave the way for a new era in industrial fermentation, green energy, and overall process efficiency… The future indeed holds vast promise with innovations that are as economically robust as they are friendly to the planet.
