B18.12 Sustainable food production

Question 1

How can you tackle the problem of overfishing?

Answer 1

Include size of holes in the net so only bigger fish are caught
Bans on fishing in the breeding season

Question 2

What is mycoprotein?

Answer 2

protein made from fungi

Question 3

How is the production of Mycoprotein different from intensive farming?

Answer 3

Similarities:
• fermenter equivalent to enclosed shed or barn
• fermenter temperature regulated and food supply maintained to give the optimum conditions,
• designed to achieve maximum growth over minimum time,
• cost of maintaining conditions outweighed by increased production;
Differences:
• fungus not an animal so controlled conditions cause no stress,
• no ethical issues,
• pH not monitored and maintained in farming,
• no free-range alternative in mycoprotein production.

Question 4

How is Mycoprotein formed?

Answer 4

Produced using the fungus Fusarium which grows rapidly on cheap glucose syrup in large specialed containers called fermenters
Fusarium needs aerobic conditions to grow. In optimum conditions it can double its mass every 5 hours. It is harvested and purified then dried to make mycoprotein which is a pale yellow solid