Methane Single Cell Protein: Potential to Secure a Global Protein Supply Against Catastrophic Food Shocks
Global catastrophes such as a supervolcanic eruption, asteroid impact, or nuclear winter could cause global agricultural collapse due to reduced sunlight reaching the Earth’s surface. The human civilization’s food production system is unprepared to respond to such events, but methane single cell pro...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-07-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbioe.2022.906704/full |
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| author | Juan B. García Martínez Joshua M. Pearce James Throup Jacob Cates Maximilian Lackner Maximilian Lackner David C. Denkenberger David C. Denkenberger |
| author_facet | Juan B. García Martínez Joshua M. Pearce James Throup Jacob Cates Maximilian Lackner Maximilian Lackner David C. Denkenberger David C. Denkenberger |
| author_sort | Juan B. García Martínez |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Global catastrophes such as a supervolcanic eruption, asteroid impact, or nuclear winter could cause global agricultural collapse due to reduced sunlight reaching the Earth’s surface. The human civilization’s food production system is unprepared to respond to such events, but methane single cell protein (SCP) could be a key part of the solution. Current preparedness centers around food stockpiling, an excessively expensive solution given that an abrupt sunlight reduction scenario (ASRS) could hamper conventional agriculture for 5–10 years. Instead, it is more cost-effective to consider resilient food production techniques requiring little to no sunlight. This study analyses the potential of SCP produced from methane (natural gas and biogas) as a resilient food source for global catastrophic food shocks from ASRS. The following are quantified: global production potential of methane SCP, capital costs, material and energy requirements, ramp-up rates, and retail prices. In addition, potential bottlenecks for fast deployment are considered. While providing a more valuable, protein-rich product than its alternatives, the production capacity could be slower to ramp up. Based on 24/7 construction of facilities, 7%–11% of the global protein requirements could be fulfilled at the end of the first year. Despite significant remaining uncertainties, methane SCP shows significant potential to prevent global protein starvation during an ASRS at an affordable price—US$3–5/kg dry. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T03:25:44Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fcca60896f03419ba5df95a684eb383e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-4185 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T03:25:44Z |
| publishDate | 2022-07-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology |
| spelling | doaj.art-fcca60896f03419ba5df95a684eb383e2022-12-22T03:04:39ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology2296-41852022-07-011010.3389/fbioe.2022.906704906704Methane Single Cell Protein: Potential to Secure a Global Protein Supply Against Catastrophic Food ShocksJuan B. García Martínez0Joshua M. Pearce1James Throup2Jacob Cates3Maximilian Lackner4Maximilian Lackner5David C. Denkenberger6David C. Denkenberger7Alliance to Feed the Earth in Disasters (ALLFED), Fairbanks, AK, United StatesDepartment of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Western University, London, ON, CanadaAlliance to Feed the Earth in Disasters (ALLFED), Fairbanks, AK, United StatesAlliance to Feed the Earth in Disasters (ALLFED), Fairbanks, AK, United StatesFH Technikum Wien, Wien, AustriaCirce Biotechnologie GmbH, Wien, AustriaAlliance to Feed the Earth in Disasters (ALLFED), Fairbanks, AK, United StatesUniversity of Alaska Fairbanks (Mechanical Engineering and Alaska Center for Energy and Power), Fairbanks, AK, United StatesGlobal catastrophes such as a supervolcanic eruption, asteroid impact, or nuclear winter could cause global agricultural collapse due to reduced sunlight reaching the Earth’s surface. The human civilization’s food production system is unprepared to respond to such events, but methane single cell protein (SCP) could be a key part of the solution. Current preparedness centers around food stockpiling, an excessively expensive solution given that an abrupt sunlight reduction scenario (ASRS) could hamper conventional agriculture for 5–10 years. Instead, it is more cost-effective to consider resilient food production techniques requiring little to no sunlight. This study analyses the potential of SCP produced from methane (natural gas and biogas) as a resilient food source for global catastrophic food shocks from ASRS. The following are quantified: global production potential of methane SCP, capital costs, material and energy requirements, ramp-up rates, and retail prices. In addition, potential bottlenecks for fast deployment are considered. While providing a more valuable, protein-rich product than its alternatives, the production capacity could be slower to ramp up. Based on 24/7 construction of facilities, 7%–11% of the global protein requirements could be fulfilled at the end of the first year. Despite significant remaining uncertainties, methane SCP shows significant potential to prevent global protein starvation during an ASRS at an affordable price—US$3–5/kg dry.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbioe.2022.906704/fullglobal catastrophic riskexistential risksingle cell proteinmethanotrophic bacteriaresilient foodfood security |
| spellingShingle | Juan B. García Martínez Joshua M. Pearce James Throup Jacob Cates Maximilian Lackner Maximilian Lackner David C. Denkenberger David C. Denkenberger Methane Single Cell Protein: Potential to Secure a Global Protein Supply Against Catastrophic Food Shocks Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology global catastrophic risk existential risk single cell protein methanotrophic bacteria resilient food food security |
| title | Methane Single Cell Protein: Potential to Secure a Global Protein Supply Against Catastrophic Food Shocks |
| title_full | Methane Single Cell Protein: Potential to Secure a Global Protein Supply Against Catastrophic Food Shocks |
| title_fullStr | Methane Single Cell Protein: Potential to Secure a Global Protein Supply Against Catastrophic Food Shocks |
| title_full_unstemmed | Methane Single Cell Protein: Potential to Secure a Global Protein Supply Against Catastrophic Food Shocks |
| title_short | Methane Single Cell Protein: Potential to Secure a Global Protein Supply Against Catastrophic Food Shocks |
| title_sort | methane single cell protein potential to secure a global protein supply against catastrophic food shocks |
| topic | global catastrophic risk existential risk single cell protein methanotrophic bacteria resilient food food security |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbioe.2022.906704/full |
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