Novozymes – a company leader in biotechnologies is aiming to feed the growing world sustainably by rethinking protein. The company is introducing a protein made through microbial fermentation that saves 90% of emissions related to meat proteins.
Novozymes technology involves feeding microorganisms with sugar that they convert into protein. When produced that way, the greenhouse gas emissions related to meat protein are cut significantly which opens a new chapter in the food industry.
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“We need to rethink how proteins are made and consumed. At a time of increasing demand across the protein space, Novozymes is helping to make the shift to more climate-friendly food effortless, healthy and tasty. We have decades of experience as the world-leading manufacturer of fermented catalytic proteins,” said Valario Nannini, General Manager of Advanced Proteins, Novozymes.
According to Novozymes, 10 billion people are expected to live on the planet by 2060 which would increase the demand for protein. Global protein demand was 202 million tonnes in 2018 and is projected to double by 2050, as incomes and populations rise.
The bad news is, the livestock industry is currently responsible for around 14.5% of man-made emissions and occupies 80% of agricultural land on Earth.
It is also a leading cause of deforestation in developing countries which can only deepen the climate change problem.
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Therefore, the world would need to develop new additional sources of protein to meet growing protein demand while cutting carbon emissions and saving land and water – needs related to the conventional industry.
Proteins produced by fermentation could be one aspect of the solution to this problem. According to the company, proteins produced this way could have the nutritional value needed to nourish a growing population.
Replacing animal-based protein with protein produced by fermentation can unlock the emissions savings that the industry is trying to achieve for future generations.
