The production of fermentation-based proteins is rapidly gaining importance within the food and biotechnology sectors. Yet, an overview of which feedstocks – both primary and by-products – can already be converted into proteins, with which microorganisms, and for which applications, often remains fragmented.
The ProteInn Club has addressed this challenge by developing an interactive knowledge matrix that provides a state-of-the-art overview of value chains in fermentation-based protein production. This tool consolidates data from scientific literature, market reports, patent information, and input from industrial and academic partners into a single, integrated, and user-friendly platform.
With this development, The ProteInn Club offers a practical instrument for academics, R&D departments, and innovation managers seeking rapid insight into the current state of the field. The knowledge matrix serves as a screening tool and a starting point for further process development and valorization research.
Users can construct a value chain themselves by combining parameters such as:
- Type of feedstock and carbon source
- Microorganism
- Type of fermentation
- Scale
- Product category and application
- Commercialization status
The tool then generates an overview of relevant products, processes, and publications that match the selected criteria. Each result includes references to the original sources and provides detailed technical information, including the species used, process conditions, nutritional properties, or patent details. The overviews can also be easily downloaded.
A key feature of the knowledge matrix is its broad inclusion of diverse feedstocks, including (industrial) by-products. This enables companies and researchers to explore the potential of alternative feedstocks for protein production via fermentation.
The interactive tool is now available for use. Interested parties can explore the various value chains and their underlying knowledge base via the ProteInn Club platform, here: Value Chain Tool – The ProteInn club
The tool was developed within the project ‘FERM EIWIT’, supported by VLAIO