Technologies for protein production: New ways to feed the world's population
Proteins form an essential part of human nutrition. The most common sources are meat, animal products such as milk and eggs, and even plants. Production, especially via animal husbandry, demands immense resources and causes serious environmental problems. A research team at the University of Tübingen led by environmental biotechnologist, Professor Lars Angenent of the Center for Applied Geosciences, has now carried out a theoretical investigation into how the growing world population could be supplied with proteins without conventional agriculture. Using the "power-to-protein" approach in which proteins are produced directly with recovered basic ingredients, such as carbon dioxide and ammonia, via biotechnology, the team is discussing theoretical considerations, existing industrial protein production methods, and estimations to achieve this goal. In its review article published in the scientific journal Joule, the team concludes that a combined electrochemical and biotechnological system might be able to supply considerable amounts of protein for human consumption...