Food production today has a massive environmental footprint, contributing significantly to greenhouse gas emissions, freshwater usage, and deforestation. In Norwegian aquaculture, feed accounts for nearly 80% of greenhouse gas emissions. Less than 1% of current feed uses sustainable ingredients, none of which originate from Norway.
SINTEF has analyzed a range of alternative protein sources and concluded that aerobic fermentation of micro organisms will be a key technology for high-volume, sustainable feed ingredient production. NoMy, Norway’s only commercial player dedicated to creating sustainable proteins from fungal mycelium, is looking to develop innovative products for a circular bioeconomy and to improve food security.
Challenges abound - process efficiency, economics, and ensuring protein quality - but the project partners’ focus on efficiency, quality, consistency and safety charts a promising path forward. Dairy industry side streams, often overlooked and expensive to dispose of, poses a significant waste problem due to its volume. However, its nutrient density renders it ideal for filamentous fungi fermentation, sparking a circular approach to resource utilization.
Testing mycoprotein as a feed source through collaboration with Skretting marks a crucial step. Documenting its suitability for feed production in nutritional benefits validates the innovation. Techno-economic assessments and life cycle analyses also play key roles, offering insights into sustainability and risk management.
This project, if successful, promises new revenue streams for NoMy through sale of mycoprotein-based feed ingredients. Strategic steps to mitigate risks, secure agreements, and scale production align with a goal to produce 9,000 tons annually from dairy side streams by 2030. Partnerships fuel this journey, benefitting research and industry partners, and aligning with UN Sustainable Development Goals.