The ALEHOOP project, funded by the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking, has successfully demonstrated the feasibility of sustainable plant-based protein extraction. The project has developed pilot-scale biorefineries that recover low-cost dietary proteins from algae and plant-based biomass.
The biorefineries produce high-value food and feed products, including snacks, smoothies, meat alternatives, animal feed, and sports drinks. To achieve this, the project optimized its biorefinery process and protein extraction methods to ensure consistent high-quality products.
“Current protein sources are quickly becoming unsustainable, from both an economic and an environmental perspective, raising alarms about food security and creating an urgent need to find alternative proteins. Turning these by-products into alternative proteins and, thus, food and feed products, could help us meet the world’s increasing demand for proteins in a more sustainable way,” says Nuria Valdés Mediavilla, project manager at Contactica Innovation in Spain.
The project has also addressed regulatory requirements and market barriers for the use of macroalgae and legume proteins in food and feed applications through extensive safety and quality testing.
“This achievement represents a big step towards providing sustainable, low-cost dietary proteins that can help reduce the EU’s dependency on imported proteins while also increasing food security, contributing to the circular bioeconomy, and helping mitigate the effects of climate change,” remarks Valdés Mediavilla.
A significant milestone has been achieved with the successful demonstration of pilot-scale extraction of proteins from residual macroalgae and legume by-products. The project will now enter its final phase, where alternative protein sources will be validated for use in food and feed applications.
