Engineering the Dark Food Chain

Area of Science:

• Food Science
• Microbiology
• Biotechnology

Background:

• Global food security is threatened by climate change and resource scarcity.
• Current food production methods face significant environmental challenges.
• Innovative solutions are needed to supplement traditional agriculture.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the integration of novel dark food chains into human food systems.
• To leverage chemoautotrophic microbial processes for sustainable protein production.
• To assess the feasibility and benefits of using methane- and hydrogen-oxidizing bacteria.

Main Methods:

• Evaluation of bacterial stoichiometry, kinetics, and thermodynamics.
• Exploration of carbon, nitrogen, and water recycling opportunities.
• Analysis of dark food chain integration with wastewater treatment and aquaculture.

Main Results:

• Dark food chains offer high volumetric productivities without light dependency.
• Exothermic processes provide heat for downstream protein processing.
• Feedstock gases (CH4 and CO2) can be delivered efficiently via existing infrastructure.

Conclusions:

• Dark food chains present a viable alternative protein source, such as a substitute for fishmeal.
• These systems can mitigate climate change by reducing agricultural land use and fertilizer dependency.
• Potential exists for producing high-value products like polyhydroxybutyrate alongside protein.