A closed photo bioreactor where micro algae are cultivated in glass tubes
(credit: File:Photobioreactor PBR 4000 G IGV Biotech.jpg – Wikipedia)
FOODS OF THE FUTURE Researchers from the University of Copenhagen have not only succeeded in using blue-green algae as a surrogate mother for a new protein – they have even coaxed the microalgae to produce “meat fiber-like” protein strands. The achievement may be the key to sustainable foods that have both the ‘right’ texture and require minimal processing.
We all know that we ought to eat less meat and cheese and dig into more plant-based foods. But whilst perusing the supermarket cold display and having to choose between animal-based foods and more climate-friendly alternative proteins, our voices of reason don’t always win. And even though flavour has been mastered in many plant-based products, textures with the ‘right’ mouthfeel have often been lacking.
Furthermore, some plant-based protein alternatives are not as sustainable anyway, due to the resources consumed by their processing.
But what if it was possible to make sustainable, protein-rich foods that also have the right texture? New research from the University of Copenhagen is fueling that vision. The key? Blue-green algae. Not the infamous type known for being a poisonous broth in the sea come summertime, but non-toxic ones.
“Cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae, are living organisms that we have been able to get to produce a protein that they don’t naturally produce. The particularly exciting thing here is that the protein is formed in fibrous strands which somewhat resemble meat fibers. And, it might be possible to use these fibres in plant-based meat, cheese or some other new type of food for which we are after a particular texture,” says Professor Poul Erik Jensen of the Department of Food Science.
In a new study, Jensen and fellow researchers from the University of Copenhagen, among other institutions, have shown that cyanobacteria can serve as host organisms for the new protein by inserting foreign genes into a cyanobacterium. Within the cyanobacterium, the protein organizes itself as tiny threads or nanofibers.
Minimal processing – maximum sustainability
Scientists around the world have zoomed in on cyanobacteria and other microalgae as potential alternative foods. In part because, like plants, they grow by means of photosynthesis, and partly because they themselves contain both a large amount of protein and healthy polyunsaturated fatty acids.
“I’m a humble guy from the country side who rarely throws his arms into the air, but being able to manipulate a living organism to produce a new kind of protein which organizes itself into threads is rarely seen to this extent – and it is very promising. Also, because it is an organism that can easily be grown sustainably, as it survives on water, atmospheric CO2 and solar rays. This result gives cyanobacteria even greater potential as a sustainable ingredient,” says an enthusiastic Poul Erik Jensen, who heads a research group specializing in plant-based food and plant biochemistry.
Many researchers around the world are working to develop protein-rich texture enhancers for plant-based foods – e.g., in the form of peas and soybeans. However, these require a significant amount of processing, as the seeds need to be ground up and the protein extracted from them, so as to achieve high enough protein concentrations.
“If we can utilize the entire cyanobacterium in foodstuffs, and not just the protein fibers, it will minimize the amount of processing needed. In food research, we seek to avoid too much processing as it compromises the nutritional value of an ingredient and also uses an awful lot of energy,” says Jensen.
Tomorrow’s cattle
The professor emphasizes that it will be quite some time before the production of protein strands from cyanobacteria begins. First, the researchers need to figure out how to optimize the cyanobacteria’s production of protein fibers. But Jensen is optimistic:
“We need to refine these organisms to produce more protein fibres, and in doing so, ‘hijack’ the cyanobacteria to work for us. It’s a bit like dairy cows, which we’ve hijacked to produce an insane amount of milk for us. Except here, we avoid any ethical considerations regarding animal welfare. We won’t reach our goal tomorrow because of a few metabolic challenges in the organism that we must learn to tackle. But we’re already in the process and I am certain that we can succeed,” says Poul Erik Jensen, adding:
“If so, this is the ultimate way to make protein.”
Cyanobacteria such as spirulina are already grown industrially in several countries – mostly for health foods. Production typically occurs in so-called raceway ponds beneath the open sky or in photobioreactors chambers, where the organisms grow in glass tubes.
According to Jensen, Denmark is an obvious place to establish “microalgae factories” to produce processed cyanobacteria. The country has biotech companies with the right skills and an efficient agricultural sector.
“Danish agriculture could, in principle, produce cyanobacteria and other microalgae, just as they produce dairy products today. It would be possible to harvest, or milk, a proportion of the cells as fresh biomass on a daily basis. By concentrating cyanobacteria cells, you get something that looks like a pesto, but with protein strands. And with minimal processing, it could be incorporated directly into a food.”
Original Article: Scientists use blue-green algae as a surrogate mother for “meat-like” proteins
More from: University of Copenhagen
The Latest Updates from Bing News
Go deeper with Bing News on:
Blue-green algae
- Public lake sampling for algae toxin begins in Nebraska
The Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy announced Monday it has begun its weekly sampling of public lakes across the state.
- Harmful algae bloom confirmed at Duck Lake in Cheshire Township
CHESHIRE TWP. — The Allegan County Health Department has confirmed an algal bloom in a lake in Cheshire Township, the department announced Friday. Samples at Duck Lake have confirmed blue-green algae, ...
- ADVISORY | Blue-green algae bloom found in Allegan's Duck Lake
Until the bloom breaks up or testing shows safe levels of HABs you should follow the recommended guidelines. There will also be signs posted around the lake.
- No trace of ‘blue-green algae’ at Moorlough when NIEA visited
No trace of ‘blue-green algae’ was detected at the popular Donemana beauty and fishing spot Moorlough when Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) officers visited last month.
- Residents turn to commission for leadership in dealing with lake algae
Constance Gehring went to the county commission on April 30 with something on her mind — Harvey County East Lake is once again on the Kansas Department Health and Environment Blue-Green Algae advisory ...
Go deeper with Bing News on:
Sustainable foods
- eBook: Efficient Operations: Propelling the Food Automation Market
For industrialized food production sectors, the megatrends of sustainable practices, digitalization and demand for skilled employees are underpinned by rising adaptability of ...
- We cannot afford another lost year for food and climate action
Last December, organizers of the annual UN climate negotiations finally got around to dealing with agriculture as a source of carbon, using the occasion to unveil a non-binding so-called “roadmap” for ...
- The Sustainable Finance Podcast: Getting investors, companies and consumers involved
The Sustainable Finance Podcast is a weekly program featuring conversations with sustainability thought leaders such as cleantech entrepreneurs, VC investors, ...
- Bridging the Gap for Food Systems Transformation: New European Network of Academic Collaboration on Food Systems Science
Europe’s food system is affected by complex challenges, such as meeting the demands for sustainable food production, distribution and consumption, ...
- UC boosts food security, reduces waste
University of California Cooperative Extension in San Bernardino County provided interactive classes and demonstrations in English and Spanish for ethnically diverse and limited-resource residents ...