Porphyridium cruentum: A fast growing microalga as an alternative protein source

Leading alternative meat companies aim to produce meat mimetic products capable of displacing, in particular, beef livestock with a plant-based food system lower in greenhouse gas emissions, water consumption, and environmental pollution. However, the initial success of the products from these companies has waned, as the nutritional quality, eating experience, and price did not entice customers. This research project will develop the red alga Porphyridium cruentum, a saline organism that can be cultivated on otherwise non-arable land in rural communities, as a multifunctional protein source that can meet consumer preferences and produce commodity-scale, plant-based, proteins at lower costs. The red algal biomass will provide a high-quality protein ingredient with additional nutritional components including omega-3 oils, antioxidants, carotenoids, and additional nutritional values. The unique red color imparted by the protein phycoerythrin will be central to the replacement of meat products, matching the color profile consumers expect in a meat product. On a protein basis, projected emissions are reduced by 95% relative to those derived from beef, without considering co-product benefits. The later Phases II & III of this project will address product functionality associated with organoleptic properties such as texture and juiciness. The cost of the algal protein concentrate will be projected for large-scale raceway pond cultivation systems, which can meet both the price and volumes required by this developing industry. The Phase I research is a collaborative effort between the lead company, MicroBio Engineering Inc. (MBE, San Luis Obispo, CA), and subcontractor PNNL (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Sequim, WA). MBE will cultivate P. cruentum up in scalable raceway ponds to establish productivity and other performance parameters and produce sufficient biomass for downstream processing and analysis. PNNL will carry out protein extraction at a bench-scale for color evaluation and stability and mass balances. The data generated by MBE and PNNL will be inputs for preliminary TEA/LCA studies to be carried out by MBE. Extracellular polysaccharide co-products will be included in these studies, The aim of this research is the commercialization of a P. cruentum product meeting FDA regulations for novel foods. In Phase I we will identifying potential collaborations and partners for Phase II and III. The end product of the research program is a protein concentrate derived from red algae that would be a major ingredient in alternative plant-based meat substitutes with minimal environmental footprint.