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FORNY20-FORNY2020

MP: NIMIPROD - submerged cultures by respiratory metabolism

Alternative title: NIMIPROD - effektiv anaerob protein produksjon

Awarded: NOK 0.50 mill.

Project Number:

311728

Project Period:

2020 - 2020

Funding received from:

The NIMIPROD process, developed at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), allows for highly improved submerged cultivation of biomass by anaerobic respiration, which will improve the way we produce bacterial proteins. The way we currently produce food is about to change profoundly as microorganisms are domesticated to grow and produce proteins in large scale fermenters. Such biomass production in submerged cultures of microorganisms has already been implemented for production of protein both from sugars, methane and a new process utilizing autotrophic organisms growing on hydrogen is underway. So far, all systems have been based on aerobic respiration. Aeration (provision of oxygen) is a significant cost in such production, and the ultimate limiting factor for the production rate per volume. Sophisticated and expensive devices for enforced aeration have been developed, which can increase the productivity, but operating such systems near the maximum production rate is not recommendable because transient oxygen limitation may lead to accumulation of toxic compounds. The invention implies a grossly simplified procedure for large scale production of single cell proteins in submerged cultures of microorganisms, hence reduce the price, compared to conventional approaches. The NIMIPROD process thus provides a rational and simple platform for producing feed and food materials, but also a plethora of other complex organic molecules. The latter will emerge as rapid advances in molecular biology will allow us to program the metabolism of domesticated microbes. Our novel process will sustain fast growth by anaerobic respiration, at very high cell densities, by homeostatic control of pH. Establishment of safe and robust routines requires profound understanding of the biochemistry and regulatory biology of anaerobic respiration, which is the core competence of the research group hosting these experiments.

NIMIPROD grossly simplifies and improves the procedure for large scale production of single cell proteins in submerged cultures of microorganisms, hence reduce the price, compared to conventional approaches. Establishment of safe and robust routines requires profound understanding of the biochemistry and regulatory biology of anaerobic respiration, which is the core competence of the research group hosting these experiments. Sophisticated instrumentation is needed as well, dedicated to study the kinetics of anaerobic respiration, and again, this is at the core of our research group. Thus, although the idea and its ultimate industrial implementation is simple, the experiments needed provided proof-of-concept and identified a safe mode of operation.

Funding scheme:

FORNY20-FORNY2020