APRIL 2024 29 Although we certainly know what’s inside nowadays thanks to the “photo menu” within boxes of assorted chocolates—sorry for destroying the allure of what was a great Forrest line—with Chinese food there is a tremendous diversity. Regarding the coal-derived animal feed proteins, the food must be nutritious and not create more GHG gas emissions from cow “burping” et al. Do we know if cows eating this new coal-soul food emit fewer gases, the same, or more? First, we should at least examine how it is made. Coal is turned into methanol using gasification. This writer is unsure if this method was used. Still, this type of gasification can be done with “near” zero carbon gas emissions via a pulverized coal gasification-integrated green hydrogen process. Methanol is fed to a special strain of Pichia pastoris yeast. The yeast is then allowed to ferment, producing a single-cell protein. This protein contains many amino acids, vitamins, inorganic salts, fats, and carbohydrates. Because this yeast is richer in protein than plants, it can partially replace fish, soybeans, meat, and skimmed milk in animal feeds. The Chinese researchers said their key innovation was to determine, select, and then genetically engineer the yeast strain used. Don’t worry—all they did was make the yeast better-able to tolerate the toxic effects of methanol. That allowed the yeast strain to have a better maximum conversion efficiency while minimizing the amount of carbon lost during the process. No, it doesn’t seem as though they used the green hydrogen process mentioned earlier. However, there is an opportunity for some research teams. The result of this modified yeast and application was that the yeast could convert methanol into protein at 92 percent of the maximum theoretical yield of the process. According to the researchers, it’s “a cost-effective option for the industrial production of protein.” The researchers are apparently in a deal with an undisclosed manufacturing partner to begin industrial-scale demonstrations that have already produced, according to the team, “thousands of tonnes of this protein in a plant.” See: https://biotechnologyforbiofuels.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13068-023-02428-7. Produce. Protect. Proud. 2024 CAAR CONFERENCE NOVEMBER 19-21, 2024 | REGINA,SK SAVE THE DATE!
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