ISSUE FOCUS 50 FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE August 2024 Naturally rich in beneficial enzymes Vegetable proteins are commonly incorporated into animal feed. Soy meal, the greatest single source of vegetable protein used for animal feed, has an annual production of approximately 400 million tonnes. While soy meal is rich in protein, anti-nutritionals such as phytic acid interfere with nutrient absorption, particularly in monogastric animals. To counter this, producers often add exogenous phytase enzymes to the feed to decompose phytic acid. MicroBioGen has created a special non-GM yeast that produces over 500 times more phytase than normal yeast. Using just 1 to 2 kg of MicroBioGen’s high phytase yeast per tonne of vegetable meal can efficiently neutralise all the phytic acid present. This enhancement could raise the value of each tonne of SCP made from industrial waste by up to US$800. A lysine-rich alternative protein Another limitation when using vegetable proteins for animal feed is that they often lack certain essential amino acids. Maize, wheat, barley, sorghum and rice are usually lysine deficient. Over the past ten years, MicroBioGen scientists have been working on increasing the lysine content of yeast. The results have been excellent. From a starting point of 2.6% in wild type yeast, MicroBioGen’s yeast lysine levels have been increased to 8%, a more than 300% rise, as measured by Australia’s National Measurement Institute (NMI). It is estimated that this enhancement in lysine could potentially raise the value of MicroBioGen’s SCP made from waste by an additional US$100 to US$200 per tonne. Antioxidant-rich yeast MicroBioGen's yeast, grown on industrial by-products, accumulates high levels of antioxidants such as glutathione. With the potential to bolster immune responses and disease resilience among marine species, antioxidants can help to reduce antibiotic dependence and ultimately foster more sustainable approaches to aquaculture. A SINGLE CELL PROTEIN WITH DOUBLE THE VALUE Having spent over 20 years developing advanced technology to upgrade yeast, MicroBioGen has succeeded in making it a viable alternative to unsustainable protein sources such as fish meal. Key improvements include: • Growth on low-cost industrial waste and side streams • 50% higher protein content than typical wild yeast, with an excellent amino acid profile 800 700 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 US$5/t Wild type yeast <1,000 FTU/kg 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 US$10/t US$20/t US$40/t US$80/t US$160/t US$400/t US$800/t Phytase activity (1,000 FTU/t) Figure 3. MicroBioGen has successfully developed yeast that produce high levels of phytase, enhancing nutrient accessibility through the degradation of phytate, thus adding considerable value to the yeast as a feed ingredient.
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