Three forms of protein that might save our planet - no-kill chicken, insect farms in the sky, and food pulled from the air
Videos of what can be made from Solein, the “protein from air”
Thanks to Positive News, who have pointed us in this story to the three cutting-edge alternative l protein makers.
1. chicken You didn’t kill
California’s Upside Foods removes cells from live poultry, and develops them in their laboratories.
What’s produced is chicken flesh. Upside claims this is the same as animal flesh – minus the killing and the generated carbon. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved their product. In November, it will start to appear in supermarkets.
One of its major investors are the world’s biggest poultry corporation, Tyson Foods. Upside is now looking to apply their techniques to fish. According to the FDA, many other firms are applying to bring their cultivated products to the market
2. insect farms in the sky
From Ynsect
Ynsect wants to save the planet by breeding insects. Founded by environmental activists and scientists in 2011, they have garnered investments of $425m (£349m). They’re building a vertical insect farm outside Paris. It’ll be the world’s largest, and will maximise their production of mealworms – the larvae of beetles.
Packed with protein and requiring 100 times less land than conventional livestock
Making quality proteins, and needing 100 times less land than usual livestock, these mealworms can provide textured proteins and powders for human consumption. Pets can also be feed with these products. And rather than feeding your livestock soya - which is brutal for the planet - you can swap this insect protein.
3. Food made from thin air
Solein literally makes protein out of thin air. Finland’s Solar Farm claims Solein is “the world’s most sustainable protein”..
They cultivate ancient bacteria fed on CO2 from the air, plus hydrogen bubbles produced using water electrolysis (the name for the process is “precision fermentation”).
From Solein
Says Positive News: “These microorganisms make amino acids, fats, vitamins and carbohydrates. Come harvest time, excess water is removed and they’re dried into a protein-rich powder.
“Solar Farm says the process is even more efficient than photosynthesis, and requires a fraction of the land and water required to feed livestock or grow crops. It can be made into a meat and dairy alternative, or used in snacks and drinks as a fortifying protein additive.
“For now Solein is only approved for sale in Singapore, but Solar Farm is currently seeking authorisation in the UK, Europe and the US.”