Bacteria: Sustainable Protein Production with Methylotrophic Bacteria

Can bacteria produce proteins for human consumption? If so, how?

In this article, InnoProtein provides you with some answers and a visually appealing infographic to better understand the world of Proteins produced by Methylotrophic Bacteria as a promising food source.

Why Use Bacteria to Produce Protein?

Bacteria are remarkably efficient when it comes to protein production. Some species can have up to 80% of their biomass made up of protein. They also grow very quickly using simple, renewable carbon sources, such as green methanol. Unlike traditional farming, growing bacteria does not depend on seasons, requires no farmland, and uses very little water. This makes bacterial protein a promising, high-quality, and more environmentally and animal-friendly source.  

Why Methylotrophic Bacteria?

At InnoProtein, the focus is on a specific group of bacteria called methylotrophs. These bacteria are of interest because they can grow using carbon sources that contain only one carbon atom, such as methanol (CH₃OH) or methane (CH₄). These sources can be derived from renewable materials, such as biogas, solid waste, or captured CO₂, which is then converted into methanol.

Methylotrophic bacteria are more than just protein producers; they are microbial factories that can create valuable compounds, including amino acids, biodegradable plastics known as polyhydroxyalkanoates, and natural pigments with antioxidant properties, such as carotenoids.

This is important because it opens up the possibility of utilising what these bacteria produce during the fermentation process for different purposes in the bioeconomy – thereby contributing to the advancement of various areas, such as food, materials, and nutraceuticals.

The Process: How Bacterial Proteins Are Produced

The production of bacterial protein involves three stages: fermentation, separation and extraction, and finally recycling.

In the fermentation step, the bacteria are grown in a controlled environment using methanol and mineral nutrients. After fermentation, the mixture contains both bacterial cells (biomass) and a liquid portion. These two parts are separated, and the wet biomass is collected for protein extraction. The liquid that remains is not discarded. Instead, it is recycled back into the system, which helps to reduce waste and minimise water use. This circular approach supports a more sustainable production process.

During the extraction phase, InnoProtein is testing several eco-friendly technologies to extract and purify the protein from the bacterial biomass. Among them are alkaline autolysis, three-phase partitioning (TPP), and homogenization. These methods aim to recover protein efficiently while minimising the environmental impact of the process. Once purified, the resulting bacterial proteins are ready for testing in food applications, offering a new and sustainable source of nutrition for the future.

Why explore proteins produced by bacteria now?

Europe is currently facing a significant challenge in securing enough protein for human diet. Around 70% of the continent’s protein-rich crops and 85% of its soybeans are imported. To help close this protein gap, InnoProtein is exploring new potential solutions – one of which is using bacteria to produce protein in a more sustainable and efficient way.