A £30M North-East development has opened with officials’ hailing its potential as a revolutionary figure in the fish farming industry.

Calysta has launched a Teesside centre to make a new protein aimed at reducing the salmon farming industry’s dependence on fishmeal.

Known as FeedKind, the company say the product is a natural source of protein, adding its North-East base is the first of its kind in Europe.

Based beside the Centre for Process Innovation (CPI) at Wilton, near Redcar, the project has created and safeguarded about 40 jobs.

Earlier this year, US firm Calysta revealed it was working on an industry partnership to make FeedKind for North America, with a plant, capable of producing 200,000 tonnes every year planned to open across the Atlantic in 2018.

However, Alan Shaw, Calysta’s president and chief executive, who previously worked on Teesside at ICI, said its Teesside base would be equally important in the firm’s growth.

He said: “This plant represents the end of a decade of development and heralds a new era in the race to sustainably feed the world’s growing population.

“By 2050, the global population is expected to rise from 7.4 billion to 9.6 billion and will require 70 per cent more protein than is currently available.

“We can help meet this need by supplying the aquaculture industry with a naturally produced, sustainable and traceable feed alternative to replace conventional ingredients based on fishmeal and soya.

“Our technology enables retailers and consumers to have increased confidence in the integrity of their food.

“Our first focus is the salmon farming industry; Feed- Kind protein has been shown to improve growth rates, nitrogen retention and gut health in Atlantic salmon.”

The centre was officially opened by Redcar MP, Anna Turley, who was joined by Nigel Perry, CPI chief executive.

Ms Turley said: “It was an honour to open the facility.

“As well as generating investment and employment in Teesside, this puts the UK at the forefront of the race to address the world’s growing protein demand with novel technologies.

I am really pleased Calysta has chosen to base their biotech project here.”

Mr Perry added: “CPI has been dedicated to supporting Calysta through the translation and development of their technology, in addition to providing high-quality product for market testing.

“We are committed to a successful partnership that will create long-term value for both our organisations and the UK.”

The plant has been supported by an Exceptional Regional Growth Fund (EGRF) award from the Government.