Producing food from air and electricity
published: 29/06/21, 01:30
But what exactly is behind this 2.0 food? This involves producing single-cell proteins (SCP) through a fermentation process from yeasts, bacteria or microalgae, supplied with water, carbon dioxide and nutrients (methane, ethanol, sugars, etc.). These single-cell proteins will then be used to produce a food with a high protein content.
Several start-ups are already working on this subject, such as Deep Branch Biotechnology, which produces feed for livestock or aquaculture. The Finnish start-up Solar Foods has also developed “Soline”, a kind of wheat flour rich in protein obtained by separating air and water molecules through electrolysis. Fed with CO2 and nutrients, the microbes will then manufacture amino acids and produce an “ultra pure” protein. According to the company, the process is 20 times more efficient than photosynthesis and 200 times more efficient than meat at obtaining the same amount of food., and requires considerably less water. The Californian start-up Air Protein, on the same niche, has just raised $ 32 million from investors including Barclays and Google Ventures.
this process is much more economical in natural resources than conventional agriculture. And this is what confirms today the team of scientists in the PNAS journalhttps://www.futura-sciences.com/planete ... ture-92192
