Researchers in Finland have developed a batch of unicellular proteins that are nutritious enough to be served on the table. Renewable electricity has been used for this purpose.
Only electricity, water, carbon dioxide and microorganisms were used for the whole process. By electrolysis in an organic reactor, this process produces a powder consisting of 50 percent protein and 25 percent carbohydrates. It is also possible to differentiate this food by changing the microorganisms in the organic reactor.
Zoha-Pekka Pitkanen, lead researcher on the study, said the next step in the study would be to optimize the process. Because it currently takes two weeks to produce one gram of protein in a coffee cup-sized reactor.
"We are in the process of developing this technology at the moment," he said in a news release. It includes the idea of building a reactor, technology, efficiency development and process control. He estimates that the process could take up to a decade to be implemented more efficiently and in practice.
Highlighting the practical potential of making food through electricity, he said the technology could make a significant contribution in both cases. First, it can meet the food needs of the people in remote areas where the agricultural system is inadequate. Second, it would be possible to avoid the enormous environmental catastrophe of producing meat through livestock, thus producing food artificially. Through this, it is possible to mitigate various harmful effects including global greenhouse gas emissions. Currently, the meat production industry alone is responsible for 14 to 18 percent emissions.