Mass production of microbial protein using low-value materials

Global demand for protein now exceeds 200 million tonnes annually and is projected to rise to around 280 million tonnes by 2050. Meeting this demand requires diversifying protein sources beyond conventional animal- and plant-based products. Microbial proteins offer a promising alternative to traditional food and feed sources by reducing dependence on conventional agricultural systems and mitigating the environmental impacts of livestock farming. However, large-scale production of microbial proteins is currently hindered by the scarcity of cost-effective raw materials and the lack of efficient bioconversion technologies. This paper outlines strategies to accelerate the near-term scale-up of microbial proteins using low-value carbon sources. These include establishing feedstock databases, engineering robust strains for crude substrate utilization, and integrating advances in metabolic and process engineering. We further emphasize the importance of pilot- and demo-scale validation, regulatory streamlining, and cross-sector collaboration to enable sustainable and economically viable industrial deployment.