Single Cell Protein for Foods and Feeds: A Review of Trends

Abstract

Introduction: Predictions on the world’s population in the next few decades suggest that the global demand for animal-derived proteins may not be met if current conventional agriculture approaches are used. One promising solution to this complex crisis lies in the use of single-cell proteins (SCP). SCP refers to the edible biomass of unicellular microorganisms and can be developed as animal feeds or human foods. This paper provides a detailed overview on research towards the production and utilisation of SCPs and trends within the field. Study Design: A bibliometric based study was conducted on 425 SCP research articles collected from the Web of Science database, analysing the most cited papers using VOSviewer software, and contributing authors, affiliations and country of origin. Research publications on SCP started in 1961 and has grown steadily over the years. Discussion: Emerging research topics within SCP production focused on the use of improved fungal strains, the composition and characteristics of SCPs based on the type of substrates used, industrial production processes and the use of waste for SCP production, which serves the dual purpose of mitigating the cost associated with waste disposal and production of a valuable product.

New strategy for the biosynthesis of alternative feed protein: Single‐cell protein production from straw‐based biomass

“…SCP refers to the biomass or protein extract derived from a single or mixed culture of microorganisms. It has the potential to serve as a valuable source of animal feed or human food, either as a standalone product or as a supplement (Onyeaka et al., 2022). With its rich nutritional composition, SCP offers a sustainable and efficient alternative to traditional protein sources.…”

Production of single-cell-protein (SCP) / poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) matrices through fermentation of archaeaHaloferax mediterranei

“…The production of SCP typically involves utilizing the following microbial genera (Salazar-López et al, 2022): ( i ) Bacteria are used extensively for the commercial scale production of SCP, with various strains including Bacillus (Zha et al, 2021) and Pseudomonas (Saejung, & Salasook, 2018). Bacteria have certain advantages over other microorganisms, owing to their high growth rate, short generation time (about 2 h), high protein content (80% of the total dry weight), and the abundance of sulfur amino acids, which require less synthesis energy (Onyeaka et al, 2022). Interestingly, nucleic acids, particularly RNA, constitute 15-16% of bacteria’s dry weight (Bratosin et al, 2021).…”