Exploring new cellular agriculture-based value chains via an analysis on potential feedstock sources in Finland

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine cellular agriculture-based value chains in Finland with two specific objectives: 1) to estimate the potential of selected Finnish agri-food industry side streams and agri-biomasses as the source of carbon for microbial protein production and 2) to identify the barriers and enabling factors related to four cellular agriculture-based value chains based on the Finnish feedstocks sources for fermentation. By evaluating the carbohydrate content of 13 plant-based biomass streams (molasses, brewers spent grain, distillers spent grain, sugar beet stalk, sugar beet pulp, oat husk, wheat bran, rapeseed cake, potato cell juice, potato peels and residues, potato tops, straw, surplus grass) as a sugar source for fermentation, the total microbial protein production potential was calculated annually at ca. 290 000 and 360 000 tons for precision and biomass fermentation, respectively. Among the agricultural and food industry streams, straw and oat husk biomass could theoretically supply feedstock for 211 000 and 22 000 tons of protein per year by biomass fermentation, respectively. This is a substantial amount, e.g. when considering 120 000 tons of protein needed annual by Finnish population. The qualitative part of the study elaborated barriers and opportunities of the biotechnology-based production processes using four value chain concepts with distinct feedstock source (grass, bran/husk, sawdust and greenhouse residues) as case examples. The qualitative analysis concluded that, in addition to bioprocess development for reducing production costs, key factors for ensuring well-functioning cellular agriculture business models include resolving agricultural feedstock pre-processing and logistics, optimized facility location, and access to renewable energy.