Thomas G. Schmidt is a global opinion leader in foodtech and alternative proteins within nutritional applications. 21st.BIO is on a mission to empower companies in all parts of the world to produce nutritious proteins with leading precision fermentation technology at industrial scale – and independently of access to water and optimal climate conditions. Prior to co-founding 21st.BIO, Thomas G. Schmidt was a Senior Partner at McKinsey for over three decades. His long career activities led him to serve a broad range of clients across the Americas, EMEA and Asia, primarily in nutrition, pharma, industrial biotech, and agriculture. In 2020, he joined forces with ex-Novozymes CSO Per Falholt to found 21st.BIO, a biotechnology company dedicated to making the best precision fermentation technology more broadly accessible, in order for biotech innovations to become material and impactful in the world. Today, 21st.BIO applies its world-leading technology platform across many industries, from food and beverages to biomaterials, agriculture, or even biomining. Foodtech and Nutrition are particular focus areas for the company, since precision fermentation can be leveraged to produce the nutritional proteins the growing world population needs, without further harming the environment. Traditional food production is facing many challenges, including resource scarcity, climate change, and the inefficiency of conventional animal farming. By adopting sustainable biotechnologies like precision fermentation, the company aims to address these challenges while ensuring a more reliable and eco-friendly food supply.