2. Resources for the bioeconomy

Seeing the bigger picture

What are alternative proteins?

Alternative proteins are proteins produced by algae or fungi, come from insects or are cultivated from cells in the laboratory. They are used to produce meat substitutes, animal feed or as a milk alternative.

This branch of the bioeconomy is attracting more and more attention for various reasons. One reason is concern about the future food supply for a growing world population, another is ethical and environmental concerns about conventional meat and dairy products and the trend towards vegetarianism or veganism.

A start-up founded by graduates of Hamburg University of Technology uses bacteria to produce high-quality proteins for food and animal feed.