Bioconversion of soybean wet gums into high-value mycoprotein

Overview

The bioconversion process utilizes soybean wet gums, a co-product of soybean oil refining, as a feedstock to produce mycoprotein through controlled fermentation. This approach employs a filamentous fungus capable of metabolizing complex substrates, such as sugars and emulsified lipids, into mycelial biomass. The resulting mycoprotein offers a sustainable and scalable alternative to conventional animal-derived proteins, addressing global protein demand and sustainability challenges. The process allows for direct slurry integration, enhancing the economic viability of mycoprotein production by reducing reliance on costly synthetic media components.

Technical specifications

• Feedstock Utilization: Soybean wet gums are enriched with phosphorylated intermediates and polar lipids, making them suitable for fungal fermentation.
• Bioprocessing Method: Employs a consolidated bioprocessing approach utilizing filamentous fungi in batch or fed-batch fermentation modes to maximize biomass and protein yield.
• Optimization Phases: Includes laboratory-scale optimization of substrate dosing and nutrient substitution, process intensification through fed-batch optimization, and downstream processing to reduce nucleic acid content.
• Applications: The mycoprotein is suitable for food and feed markets, providing a sustainable protein diversification strategy.

Technology readiness level

The technology is at TRL 3, indicating that active research and development are underway with laboratory-scale proof of concept successfully demonstrated. The process is progressing through various phases of optimization and validation, with plans for pilot-scale testing and commercialization over the next 15 months.