Forge Minerals
20 June 2025
CyanoCapture is a ground-breaking company from the University of Oxford that’s using nature to fight climate change in a completely new way. Led by founder David Kim, the team has developed a simple, low-cost solution to remove carbon dioxide (CO₂) from emission sites using genetically engineered photosynthetic bacteria.
These bacteria, called cyanobacteria, are powered by light and CO₂, and they work like tiny machines to soak up CO2 emissions from flue gases and turn them into useful compounds. The bacteria live inside clear, tube-like containers called photobioreactors. Each of these systems can remove up to 10,000 tonnes of CO₂ every year, and the captured carbon turns into bacterial biomass which is pyrolysed into graphite which stays locked away for over 100,000 years.
What makes CyanoCapture so special is that it doesn’t need a lot of energy to run, it uses 60% less than traditional carbon capture methods. And rather than just storing the carbon, the CyanoCapture technology enables the cells to turn CO2 into two valuable products: recombinant proteins (like insulin), and a strong material called graphite, which is essential for making refractory materials or batteries. The company became the first in the world to turn CO2 into insulin using cyanobacteria.
This means the system pays for itself, without the need for government funding or relying on carbon credit schemes. It can even work in low-middle income countries with fewer resources, making it a global solution that enables an equitable access to industrial scale carbon capture.
CyanoCapture added:
“Living cells are the ultimate masters of molecular machinery. We are trying to harness their power to turn something inert and low-value like CO₂ into durable carbon and valuable pharmaceutical compounds at the same time. We are grateful to J A Kemp, for the kind nomination and their support on protecting our breakthroughs.” (Dr David Kim, CEO & Founder, CyanoCapture).
And its first of a kind, CO2-to-insulin pilot project (80,000L) which is due to be launched in 2026, will herald a new era of carbon-negative biomanufacturing. Entirely powered by the world’s most powerful photosynthetic microbe.”
J A Kemp LLP patent attorney, Karen Ng (Associate, European and UK Patent Attorney, European Patent Litigator, J A Kemp):
“CyanoCapture’s innovative solution to clean the air combines biology, sustainability, and manufacturability. Their commitment and dedication to research and innovation to combat climate change make them a strong contender for the Earthshot Prize. It’s been a privilege to work with CyanoCapture to protect the innovations that are at the heart of their technology, ensuring they can scale globally with confidence and impact.”
