Food for fungi
Investigative project demonstrates commercial readiness of 3F BIO’s patented ABUNDA® mycoprotein.
3F BIO is developing technology to meet increased protein demands in a growing global market. The Scottish biotech have developed a patented zero-waste process, capable of large-scale production of fungal protein. In this IBioIC funded collaboration with the University of Strathclyde, 3F BIO developed and tested a sustainable protein production process taking a significant leap towards their aim of commercialisation by 2021.
Process optimisation
3F BIO grow a fungus called Fusarium venenatum, which they harvest as a source of sustainable protein. The company wanted to know what materials the fungus was able to consume to survive and what the effects of these different feeds would be. The project demonstrated the robustness of 3F BIO’s process as well as the desired characteristics of the feedstock. The company was also excited to test their process in a continuous manufacture of protein, demonstrating the ability to produce the large quantities necessary to attract end users of their product.
Distillers grains
In addition to the feedstock analysis, the team also developed a new process for upgrading distillers’ dry grains and solubles (DDGS), a co-product of many ethanol fermentations, with essential amino acids. This led to a new patent for the company and another string to their bow.
The next steps for ABUNDA®
3F BIO’s mycoprotein product ABUNDA® is sustainable and made using a zero-waste process. The company continue to innovate and have recently secured further funding to investigate the scale up of ABUNDA® production.
The importance of 3F BIO’s work cannot be underestimated as the demand for protein is increasing at 10M tonnes per year. Traditional protein production, which relies on animal farming, is unsustainable and livestock emissions are thought to equate to 7.1 gigatonnes of CO2-equivalent per year, which represents 14.5% of total greenhouse gas emissions. The worldwide meat substitutes market is expected to exceed $6 Billion by 2023 and 3F BIO are helping to put Scotland front and centre of the charge.
To hear more about project funding, contact projects@ibioic.com