ISSUE FOCUS Alternative Proteins Magazine April 2025 39 MicroBioGen has developed three key protein value enhancers that significantly elevate the economic potential of its SCP: Functional Enzyme-Enriched SCP: Improved Nutrient Absorption Vegetable proteins, such as soy meal, are widely used in animal feed, with global production exceeding 400 million tonnes annually. However, many plant-based proteins contain anti-nutritional factors like phytic acid, which inhibits nutrient absorption, particularly in monogastric animals. To address this, feed producers often add exogenous phytase enzymes to break down phytic acid. MicroBioGen has developed a non-GM yeast that produces over 500 times more phytase than standard yeast (Figure 2). • Just 1–2 kg of MicroBioGen’s high-phytase yeast per tonne of vegetable meal can effectively neutralize all phytic acid present. • This breakthrough enhances feed digestibility and could increase the value of SCP made from industrial side streams by up to US$800 per tonne. Lysine-Enriched SCP: Amino Acid Profile Optimisation Many vegetable proteins, including maize, wheat, barley, sorghum, and rice, are deficient in essential amino acids like lysine—a crucial component of balanced animal nutrition. Over the past decade, Mi800 700 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 Phytase activity (1,000 FTU/t) US$5/t US$10/t US$20/t US$40/t US$80/t US$160/t US$400/t US$800/t PO4 3- + HO HO HO HO HO HO HO myo-Inositol Phytic acid Phytase Wild type yeast <1,000 FTU/kg OH OH OH OH OH O O O O O O O O O O O P P P P P P O OH OH OH OH OH OH 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 Figure 2. MicroBioGen has successfully developed yeast that produce high levels of phytase, enhancing nutrient accessibility through the degradation of phytate (inset), thus adding considerable value to the yeast as a feed ingredient.
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