From microbial proteins to cultivated meat for alternative meat-like products: a review on sustainable fermentation approaches

Abstract The global demand for protein is rapidly increasing due to population growth and changing dietary preferences, highlighting the need for sustainable alternatives to traditional animal-based proteins. This review explores cultivated meat and microbial alternative proteins, focusing on their...

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Main Authors: Fernando Roberto Paz Cedeno, Olumide Joseph Olubiyo, Sungil Ferreira
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-05-01
Series:Journal of Biological Engineering
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s13036-025-00509-9
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author Fernando Roberto Paz Cedeno
Olumide Joseph Olubiyo
Sungil Ferreira
author_facet Fernando Roberto Paz Cedeno
Olumide Joseph Olubiyo
Sungil Ferreira
author_sort Fernando Roberto Paz Cedeno
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The global demand for protein is rapidly increasing due to population growth and changing dietary preferences, highlighting the need for sustainable alternatives to traditional animal-based proteins. This review explores cultivated meat and microbial alternative proteins, focusing on their potential to meet nutritional needs while mitigating environmental impacts. It also examines the production of cultivated meat as well as various sources of microbial proteins, including mycoproteins, bacterial proteins, and microalgae, highlighting their nutritional profiles, production methods, and commercial applications. This includes an evaluation of the state of commercialization of mycoproteins and the innovative use of agricultural and industrial by-products as substrates for microbial fermentation. The integration of microbial protein production with the bioenergy sector is evaluated as a relevant alternative to attain a synergetic effect between energy and food production systems. Ultimately, this work aims to underscore the importance of microbial proteins in advancing towards a more sustainable protein production system, offering insights into current challenges and future opportunities in the field of fermentation to produce alternative proteins.
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issn 1754-1611
language English
publishDate 2025-05-01
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series Journal of Biological Engineering
spelling doaj-art-15d727670b284b5ebefa501f2766b8bb2025-08-20T02:31:59ZengBMCJournal of Biological Engineering1754-16112025-05-0119112810.1186/s13036-025-00509-9From microbial proteins to cultivated meat for alternative meat-like products: a review on sustainable fermentation approachesFernando Roberto Paz Cedeno0Olumide Joseph Olubiyo1Sungil Ferreira2Department of Food Science, The University of ArkansasSystem – Division of Agriculture (UADA), Department of Food Science, The University of ArkansasSystem – Division of Agriculture (UADA), Department of Food Science, The University of ArkansasSystem – Division of Agriculture (UADA), Abstract The global demand for protein is rapidly increasing due to population growth and changing dietary preferences, highlighting the need for sustainable alternatives to traditional animal-based proteins. This review explores cultivated meat and microbial alternative proteins, focusing on their potential to meet nutritional needs while mitigating environmental impacts. It also examines the production of cultivated meat as well as various sources of microbial proteins, including mycoproteins, bacterial proteins, and microalgae, highlighting their nutritional profiles, production methods, and commercial applications. This includes an evaluation of the state of commercialization of mycoproteins and the innovative use of agricultural and industrial by-products as substrates for microbial fermentation. The integration of microbial protein production with the bioenergy sector is evaluated as a relevant alternative to attain a synergetic effect between energy and food production systems. Ultimately, this work aims to underscore the importance of microbial proteins in advancing towards a more sustainable protein production system, offering insights into current challenges and future opportunities in the field of fermentation to produce alternative proteins.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13036-025-00509-9Biomass fermentationEnvironmental impactAgricultural by-productsBioenergy integrationCircular economy
spellingShingle Fernando Roberto Paz Cedeno
Olumide Joseph Olubiyo
Sungil Ferreira
From microbial proteins to cultivated meat for alternative meat-like products: a review on sustainable fermentation approaches
Journal of Biological Engineering
Biomass fermentation
Environmental impact
Agricultural by-products
Bioenergy integration
Circular economy
title From microbial proteins to cultivated meat for alternative meat-like products: a review on sustainable fermentation approaches
title_full From microbial proteins to cultivated meat for alternative meat-like products: a review on sustainable fermentation approaches
title_fullStr From microbial proteins to cultivated meat for alternative meat-like products: a review on sustainable fermentation approaches
title_full_unstemmed From microbial proteins to cultivated meat for alternative meat-like products: a review on sustainable fermentation approaches
title_short From microbial proteins to cultivated meat for alternative meat-like products: a review on sustainable fermentation approaches
title_sort from microbial proteins to cultivated meat for alternative meat like products a review on sustainable fermentation approaches
topic Biomass fermentation
Environmental impact
Agricultural by-products
Bioenergy integration
Circular economy
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s13036-025-00509-9
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