The project PROMISEANG
Alternative microbial fermentation proteins
The project
PROMISEANG aims to develop novel proteins from underexploited marine sources, including marine invertebrate and macroalgae discards and industrial biowaste and by-products, through fermentation using fungi, yeast or bacteria. This should generate new microbial protein biomass that meets market requirements for food, animal feed and non-food products such as pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.
A technically and economically viable biorefinery for microbial-based protein production will be demonstrated, allowing for high yields, reduced production times and costs, minimal environmental impact and increased availability of proteins in the EU. Taking a zero-waste approach, PROMISEANG will also recover and synthesise non-protein bio-compounds and molecules for food, feed and non-food applications.
Objectives
PROMISEANG’s goal is to formulate zero-waste procedures for producing proteins via biomass fermentation of non-conventional marine sources. It then looks to use the proteins to create nutritious, high-value, sustainable food, feed and non-food products.
To this end, the project aims to:
- Understand the requirements for use of marine food waste and by-products as a fermentation substrate;
- Use biomass fermentation to produce sustainable, healthy, protein-rich microbial extracts;
- Confirm the nutritional value, safety and health benefits of the new food and feed products;
- Determine the sustainability of the new proteins compared to currently available alternatives;
- Foster development of the circular economy by recovering bioactive compounds from fermentation side streams;
- Maximise project impact through exploitation activities and dissemination of results to various audiences.
Impacts
PROMISEANG is expected to:
- Identify underexploited or unexploited protein sources by determining the nutritional and metabolite profiles of over 30 types of marine biowaste and by-product;
- Extrapolate the findings to any type of food biowaste and by-product, contributing to the development of new bio-based protein fermentation processes and reducing food waste;
- Identify 10 marine food by-products that are suitable biomass fermentation substrates and validate and optimise two biomass fermentation processes;
- Increase the availability of high-quality proteins in the EU and reduce reliance on imports by mobilising protein streams from alternative sources and delivering five high-quality protein extracts;
- Identify underexploited or unexploited protein sources by determining the nutritional and metabolite profiles of over 30 types of marine biowaste and by-product;
- Extrapolate the findings to any type of food biowaste and by-product, contributing to the development of new bio-based protein fermentation processes and reducing food waste;
- Identify 10 marine food by-products that are suitable biomass fermentation substrates and validate and optimise two biomass fermentation processes;
- Increase the availability of high-quality proteins in the EU and reduce reliance on imports by mobilising protein streams from alternative sources and delivering five high-quality protein extracts;
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