New CTO for US-based biotech firm Kuehnle AgroSystems

Kuehnle AgroSystems (KAS), the US-based biotechnology company specializing in the production of affordable natural astaxanthin produced using dark fermentation, has announced via post on its LinkedIn page that its executive team is growing with the appointment of Konrad Mueller-Auffermann as its new Chief Technology Officer (CTO).

As he stepped into the position, Mueller-Auffermann replaced co-founder Adelheid (Heidi) Kuehnle, who will now assume the role of Chief Science & Sustainability Officer (CSSO). In this role, the company said, she will continue to lead the company's R&D activities, as well as focus on ensuring that KAS's astaxanthin is the most sustainably produced natural astaxanthin source on the market.

Widely recognized for both its human health benefits and as a key feed ingredient for salmon and other aquaculture species, astaxanthin is a powerful antioxidant and red-orange carotenoid pigment found in various aquatic organisms, including microalgae, salmon, and shrimp.

Recently, Kuehnle AgroSystems has entered into a strategic partnership with the Dutch food and biochemicals company Corbion to develop and commercialize a high-quality, natural astaxanthin derived from non-GMO heterotrophic algae. According to KAS's announcement of the appointment, its new CTO will be key to this project.

"Konrad brings a wealth of manufacturing, fermentation and technology experience from the likes of The EVERY Company, UPSIDE Foods and Krones. Working closely with our strategic partner Corbion and manufacturing partner Bioréa, Konrad brings deep expertise and visionary leadership to drive our activities in harnessing fermentation to scale the production of all natural algal astaxanthin," KAS' LinkedIn post read.

For his part, Konrad Mueller-Auffermann, who describes himself on his LinkedIn profile as "one of the top experts in food, beverage, and biotech process design and production," also used the professional social network to comment on his appointment as Chief Technical Officer of KAS.

"Thrilled to be joining Kuehnle AgroSystems as CTO! Excited to work with this talented team, our partners at Corbion and BIOREA, and to help scale natural algal astaxanthin through fermentation. Looking forward to this next chapter!" he wrote.

Kuehnle AgroSystems holds the patent for its process to produce natural astaxanthin from microalgae through dark fermentation in closed vertical tank systems, a procedure that, according to the US-based biotechnology company, involves lower production costs, higher yields, faster growth times, and lower water and energy consumption.

Also included in the portfolio of aquaculture investment fund Aqua-Spark, in March last year, the microalgae innovation and production company raised USD 3 million in a Series A2 funding round led by S2G Ventures.