Explore the journey to microbial protein marvels

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Date

Tuesday, November 19th 2024 (10:00 - 17:00)

Location

Brusselsesteenweg 370, 9090 Melle, België

Language

English

Organised by

Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant & ILVO/Food Pilot

Categories

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Powering the food and feed revolution by strategic investments for scale-up

On the 19th of November, ILVO and Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant are opening their doors featuring demonstrations and testimonials focused on microbial protein production and processing. Newly available research and scale-up equipment will be showcased. Companies and policy makers will highlight the strength of these investments and explore the great opportunity. Also, first results of microbial protein production, processing and analyses using this lab and pilot infrastructure will be showcased

Microbial protein is a highly promising alternative protein that has the potential to play a substantial role in the transition towards a more sustainable agri-food system. Production of microbial proteins is a form of biomanufacturing that uses bacteria, yeasts or fungi brewed in a bioreactor. Either the entire biomass or a well-defined protein can be harvested. The applications in food, feed and fine chemicals are endless, and still largely unexplored. The production process can be particularly sustainable, as low-value and globally abundant raw materials, such as side streams, can be converted into high-value components in a highly efficient way using a minimum of land and water.

Organized by ILVO and Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant. Investments were funded with the support of The Flemish Department of Economy, Science and Innovation, EFRO VLAIO, and the Province of Oost-Vlaanderen, for the projects Microbial Protein Transition, INNOLAB, FERM EIWIT, Bio Base Release, and Bio Base Advance.

PROGRAM:

10:00 Welcome reception with coffee @Food Pilot, Melle

10:30 Brewing proteins – Yes, we can!

  • Introduction – Wim Soetaert, Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant (BBEPP)

  • Policy makers guide us through the value chain

11:15 Investments in lab and pilot infrastructure empowering the Microbial Protein Transition – Yes, we did!

  • BBEPP and ILVO: Team work makes the dream work – Lieve Herman, ILVO; Sam De Campeneere, ILVO and Hendrik Waegeman, BBEPP

11:30 Triggering testimonials and case studies – Yes, we have!

  • From potato peels to single cell protein, what’s in it for the food industry? Scaling the Cupriavidus necator biomass fermentation and screening functionalities and textures for food application – Geert Van Royen, ILVO and Lena Decuyper, BBEPP

  • Steel mills & fish feed: a match made in heaven? Conversion of carbon emissions into ethanol and proteins valorized in aquaculture. Kristof Verbeeck, ArcelorMittal-Steelanol; Koen Meynen, Kemin and Nele Ameloot, UGent

  • Help, I have a fermentation side stream! Valorization towards feed applications of the microbial side streams of food enzyme production - Annatachja De Grande, ILVO and Pieter De Brabander, BBEPP

  • Cheese protein from a scaled-up stainless steel cow! Testimonial on the scale-up of the fermentation process for the production of casein, the main protein in cheese – Hille van der Kaa, Those Vegan Cowboys

11:50 Closure and wrap-up

12:30 Lunch @Food Pilot, Melle

13:30 Showtime! Stretch those legs during our live demonstrations @Food Pilot, Melle & @BBEPP, Desteldonk. Participants will follow a one-hour tour with demonstrations through each of the pilot plants: Food Pilot and Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant (BBEPP).

More info about the guided tour program available online.

16:30 Networking reception @Food Pilot, Melle