Protein, Protein: The Bioeconomy’s Latest Technology Fad Is, Actually, a Pivot Back to an Ancient and Enduring Concern

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Protein has become the answer to almost every question. How will you achieve scale? Protein. How will you make money? Protein. What will save the world? Protein. What are you going to talk about in your next presentation? Protein, protein, protein.

The extent to which Protein has become a Get Out of Jail Free card became clear to me yesterday when I spotted a chocolate muffin being hawked at our local 7-Eleven as “Muffin + Protein”.

Food vs Fuel, in perverse reverse

And it used to be that farmers and consumers wanted “protein” included in considerations of biofuels policy. In fact, that was what “food vs fuel” was grounded in. Fear of that too many biofuels would result in too little protein, among other nutrients. Now, it’s reversed. We reported in February that European farmers are urging the European Commission to keep conventional biofuels in mind as part of the upcoming “protein strategy.” In other words, if we don;t produce enough biofuels, we won’t have enough protein. More on that here.

The increasing importance of protein was driven home to us by Green Plains, the third largest US ethanol producer, when they tipped in their most recent corporate presentation that they plan to “divest select assets that are undervalued by the market or do not fit our protein and export strategy.” For Green Plains that makes quite a bit of sense because the company, best known as an ethanol producer, has become the fourth largest cattle feeder in the U.S., and its food & ingredients segment generated more than 60 percent of the company’s EBITDA in Q1 2018. Yet, it’s a sign of the times.

And here are 15 ventures worth keeping an eye on in the evolving world of protein production.

#1 Cargill switches sweetener plant from corn to wheat to make vegetable protein and biofuel

In January, we reported that Cargill announced its intent to grow and diversify its product portfolio at its starches and sweeteners plant in Krefeld with products such as vegetable wheat protein, specialized industrial wheat starches and advanced bio-fuel.

#2 Duckweed Redux: are duckweed’s ducks finally in a row for protein, fuels and more?
In May, we reported that Greenbelt Resources Corporation and Duckweed DAYS commenced their inaugural Duckweed Project to commercialize the duckweed model developed by the Andrew J. Young Foundation. Tests conducted during a pilot program indicated that protein extracted from duckweed was one of the most nutritious vegetable organic protein with essential amino acids, and the bio-refining process was efficient, sustainable and economically viable.

#3 Chickens, Get Ripped! ICM unveils high-end protein as 5th core product for ethanol biz

It’s called UltraMax, which sounds like something you’d pick up at a GNC as a diet supplement, and in many ways that’s a good way to start thinking about it.

#4 Algae at scale: Qualitas Health triples algae farm acreage for omega-3 now, protein soon

FeedKind protein is a family of natural, sustainable, and traceable feed ingredients for fish, livestock and pets that is being developed to help meet the world’s growing demand for food.

FeedKind protein is produced via a continuous fermentation process of a natural microorganism, using the world’s only commercially-validated gas fermentation process.

#6 FHR unveils a $50M gambit to make Überprotein at ethanol plants
In January, we reported that Flint Hills Resources will invest more than $50M in its Fairmont, Neb. ethanol plant to install a new technology that will produce a high protein animal and fish feed ingredient from a portion of the plant’s distiller grains, a co-product of ethanol production. The project is one of the largest investments in co-product upgrading technologies ever made by a dry mill ethanol manufacturer.

#6 KnipBio closes Series B round for its Single Cell Protein: what’s SCP and why is it becoming the hottest development target around?

KnipBio has developed a series of naturally occurring microbes that convert low-cost feedstock into premium, nutritious, single-cell proteins laden with pigment-enhancing carotenoids to produce healthier, more vibrant fish.

#7 Dr. Praeger’s launches Pure Plant Protein made with veggies and avocado oil