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BIOCONVERSION OF UNDERUTILIZED RESOURCES INTO NEXT GENERATION PROTEINS FOR FOOD AND FEED

Project description

Building a case for edible insects

A warming climate, a growing population and changing consumption patterns are straining the food production system. Responding to the growing needs of farmers, producers and consumers, the EU is searching for solutions. The EU-funded NextGenProteins project has identified microalgae, single cell protein and insects as promising sources of alternative proteins. There’s a case for pairing edible microorganisms with emerging technologies. Proteins can be produced through innovative and environmentally sustainable bioconversion processes using industrial waste streams, causing limited environmental impacts and putting minimum pressure on natural resources. NextGenProteins will work to boost the acceptability and trust of consumers towards alternative proteins and processes. Overall, it will help to strengthen food security, sustainability and self-sufficiency of EU protein production.

Objective

Demand for proteins is increasing for food and feed applications. To meet the increasing demand, production will have to double by 2050. However, current protein production, both animal- and vegetal based, has severe negative environmental impacts in terms of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, land and water use, as well as biodiversity loss. The EU is not self-sufficient when it comes to protein production and a large proportion of the demand is met with imported proteins with concerns regarding food security and the general competitiveness of the EU. It is therefore of vital importance to find sustainable alternative protein sources that can be economically produced in quantities that meet growing food and feed sectors. NextGenProteins has identified microalgae, single cell protein and insects as three promising sources of alternative proteins that can be produced through innovative and environmentally sustainable bioconversion processes using industrial waste streams. These processes cause limited environmental impacts and pressure on natural resources. Through collaboration between industry and RTD, the project will address key barriers that currently prohibit or limit the application of the three alternative proteins in food and feed, such as production scalability and optimisation, production costs, value chain risks, safety, regulations and consumer trust and acceptance. The project will demonstrate the suitability and economic viability of the alternative proteins in food and feed value chains and explore their market opportunities with the industry, stakeholders, policy makers and consumers. NextGenProteins will find means to improve the acceptability and trust of consumers towards alternative proteins and processes. The project will contribute to strengthening food security, sustainability and self-sufficiency of EU protein production with future-proof supply, as well as long-term reduction of land use, water use, GHG emissions and energy of EU food sector.

Call for proposal

H2020-SFS-2018-2020

See other projects for this call

Sub call

H2020-SFS-2019-1

Coordinator

MATIS OHF
Net EU contribution
€ 1 760 987,53
Address
VINLANDSLEID 12
113 Reykjavik
Iceland

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Region
Ísland Ísland Höfuðborgarsvæði
Activity type
Research Organisations
Links
Total cost
€ 1 760 987,53

Participants (24)