Single cell protein production by anaerobic respiration (AnaPro)

Microbes have great potential sources of proteins and attractive macromolecules (e. g. drugs and bioplastics). They have an enormous repertoire in terms of food and energy sources, which makes it possible to develop cultivation processes that, for example, utilize industrial waste or are based on simple inorganic molecules, "air and water". Thus, microorganisms can contribute to the production of food, feed and other products without competing for agricultural land and regardless of climate or seasonal variations.

There are many approaches to so-called precision fermentation, and some processes have already been implemented on a large scale, but they are based on aerobic (oxygen-dependent) respiration. Oxygen supply is a bottleneck due to low solubility in water. We have invented a method for oxygen-independent (anaerobic) cultivation of dense bacterial cultures (patent pending). AnaPro is a basic research project where we will identify relevant organisms and further develop anaerobic cultivation strategies with future industrial implementation in mind.