The role of single cell protein in cellular agriculture

Curr Opin Biotechnol. 2022 Jun:75:102686. doi: 10.1016/j.copbio.2022.102686. Epub 2022 Jan 31.

Abstract

More food needs to be produced for the growing human population, but the possibilities of expanding the area of arable land are limited. Cellular Agriculture is an emerging field of biotechnology, aimed at finding alternatives to agricultural production of various commodities. As a part of Cellular Agriculture, the use of microbes and microalgae as food and feed with high protein content, so-called single cell protein (SCP), is gaining renewed scientific and commercial interest. In this review, we give an introduction to SCP production by heterotrophic microbial species, phototrophs, methanotrophs and autotrophic hydrogen oxidizers, as well as highlight some challenges and the latest developments in the growing SCP industry.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Agriculture*
  • Biotechnology
  • Dietary Proteins
  • Humans
  • Microalgae* / metabolism
  • Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Dietary Proteins
  • Proteins
  • single cell proteins