Imagine creating high-quality protein without relying on massive soy fields or imported crops. This work uses tiny organisms like algae and fungi, along with insects, to grow protein in a lab. It's like brewing beer, but instead of alcohol, the result is a nutrient-rich powder for food or industrial use.
The EU relies on imports for 70% of protein-rich crops and 90% of soybeans, creating a critical 'protein gap' and vulnerability in the food and feed supply chain.
Laboratory-scale protocols for producing and extracting proteins from microalgae, bacteria, fungi, and insects using ultrasound and shear force technologies.
If you are an alternative protein manufacturer dealing with the EU's 90% soybean import dependency — this project developed extraction methods using ultrasound and shear forces that increase protein yield to over 20% for microalgae and fungi.
If you are a feed producer dealing with the high cost and environmental impact of traditional protein crops — this project developed single-cell proteins from bacteria and insects to create a circular, zero-waste feed source.
If you are a bio-based chemical company dealing with a lack of sustainable raw materials for non-food applications — this project developed a way to recover high-quality proteins from fungal and bacterial biomass for industrial use.
Based on available project data, specific operational costs per kg of protein are not provided, though the project total budget is € 5,043,847.50.
The project has currently tested culture and growth conditions at the laboratory scale, achieving protein extraction yields of 20% or more for certain biomasses.
Based on available project data, licensing terms are not specified; however, the project involves 10 industrial partners and 11 SMEs who are actively developing these value chains.
The project is active from 2023-06-01 to 2027-05-31, suggesting that full results and potential commercial tools will be available by mid-2027.
The project utilizes specific technologies like ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) and rotor-stator systems (UT) which can be integrated into biomass processing workflows.
The consortium is heavily industry-driven, with 67% of the 15 partners being industrial entities, 11 of which are SMEs. This high ratio of commercial players, combined with 4 research organizations and 1 NGO, indicates a strong focus on commercial viability and market adoption rather than purely academic research.
Contact Fundacion Tecnalia Research & Innovation in Spain
Contact us to connect with the InnoProtein consortium for licensing laboratory-scale extraction protocols.
