6.4.5 using biotechnology to make food

Question 1

advantages of using microorganisms

Answer 1

• production of protein can be many times faster than animal/plant production
• biomass produced has very high protein content
• production can be increased & decreased according to demand
• no animal welfare issues
• microorganisms provide good source of protein
• protein contains no animal fat or cholesterol
• microorganisms can easily be genetically modified to adjust amino acid content of protein
• SCP production could be combined with removal of waste products
• production is independent of seasonal variations
• not much land required

Question 2

disadvantages of using microorganisms

Answer 2

• some people may not want to eat fungal protein or food that has been grown on waste
• isolation of the protein –> microorganisms are grown in huge fermenters & need to be isolated from material in which they grow
• protein has to be purified to ensure it’s uncontaminated
• microbial biomass can have high proportion of nucleic acids, which must be removed
• amino acid profile may be different from traditional animal protein –> & particularly it can be deficient in methionine
• infection: conditions needed for microorganisms to grow are also ideal for pathogenic organisms –> care must be taken to ensure culture isn’t infected with wrong organisms
• palatability: the protein doesn’t have taste or texture of traditional protein sources