A new EU Horizon 2020 project, NextGenProteins, will optimize and validate the production of three alternative proteins through resource efficient bioconversion processes and demonstrate their suitability in an industrially relevant environment as addition to, or substitute of, traditional protein sources.

The three alternative proteins to be tested are:

• Microalgae that will be grown on carbon dioxide emission from geothermal power plant in an efficient, indoor, production process transforming waste into microalgal meal.
• Black soldier flies and crickets that will be grown on underutilized plant-food biomass, transforming waste into insect protein meal.
• Single cell proteins produced through microbial fermentation of carbohydrates derived from wood biomass and biomass residues.

The project will serve as a platform for industrial partners/entrepreneurs to take their innovations to the next level by turning them into relevant, credible products and thus, accelerate market-driven, customer- and consumer-responsive innovative EU alternative protein production. This will contribute to EU’s food security and its goal of future proofing food and feed supply chains in a world faced with climate change, resource scarcity, increasing waste and aging population.

This 4-year project consists of 21 partners from ten European countries including Matis, Arbiom, Algaeinnovation Iceland and Mowi, among others.