Recent advances in the production of single cell protein from renewable resources and applications

Abstract

Single Cell Protein (SCP) refers to dry cells of microorganisms, and it constitutes a highly promising and alternative protein source for multiple applications. SCP presents a rich nutritional profile containing valuable amino acids and fatty acids, nucleic acids, minerals, and several vitamins. Several businesses worldwide have introduced SCP into their production cycles, hence expanding the scope of its application in value added market chains such as the edible food packaging. SCP is produced by a plethora of microorganisms, including fungi, yeasts, bacteria, and algae while many of them are Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS). Selected microbial strains present satisfying growth capability with high yields when cultivated in renewable feedstock. Thus, production rates and process sustainability could be enhanced via the valorization of industrial and agricultural wastes as the nutrient sources, combined with optimization of process parameters, i.e fermentation mode and feeding strategy, pH, temperature, C/N ratio, agitation rate and oxygen supply. This review addresses the latest developments made towards the SCP production, highlighting efficient microbial SCP producers, and production systems that valorize solid and liquid streams from several agricultural wastes. Potential applications, challenges in sensorial-, and safety-aspects as well as consumers perception issues of SCP incorporation into food-related matrices are also discussed.