Periodic Reporting for period 1 - SYLPLANT (Alternative sources for high added value food and/or feed ingredients)
Periodo di rendicontazione: 2023-06-01 al 2024-11-30
The world is facing the dual challenge of feeding a growing population and making food production more sustainable. The EU encounters an additional challenge: it imports majority of its protein, and supply chain disruption has become more common due to the COVID-19 pandemic and geopolitical upheaval.
SYLPLANT lead partner, Arbiom, has developed protein-rich food (Yusto) and feed (SylPro) ingredients combining underexploited feedstock such as agricultural or forestry residues with yeast. Given the high availability of the feedstock, the ingredients can be produced locally and on a large scale, while the fermentation process minimizes CO2 emissions. The SYLPLANT project goal is to industrially deploy Arbiom’s protein-rich ingredient production while validating its deployment from feedstock to retailers on 3 markets: aquafeed, pet food and Human food. The project will include the sustainability of the value chains in Europe, to contribute to its protein sovereignty.
SYLPLANT’s strategic objectives are to:
•build and commission the first Arbiom’s industrial plant.
•reach full production capacity so that the plant can produce 10 000 tons of protein-rich ingredient per year.
•industrially validate several foods, pet food and aquafeed applications for Arbiom’s ingredients.
To achieve these objectives, the project aims to:
•validate the environmental, economic, and social sustainability of a large-scale value chain allowing creation of protein for food and feed from underused resources.
•ensure product quality and consistency.
•formulate nutritious and sustainable food, feed and aquafeed prototypes that meet market demand.
•foster industrial replication of the plant.
SYLPLANT lead partner, Arbiom, has developed protein-rich food (Yusto) and feed (SylPro) ingredients combining underexploited feedstock such as agricultural or forestry residues with yeast. Given the high availability of the feedstock, the ingredients can be produced locally and on a large scale, while the fermentation process minimizes CO2 emissions. The SYLPLANT project goal is to industrially deploy Arbiom’s protein-rich ingredient production while validating its deployment from feedstock to retailers on 3 markets: aquafeed, pet food and Human food. The project will include the sustainability of the value chains in Europe, to contribute to its protein sovereignty.
SYLPLANT’s strategic objectives are to:
•build and commission the first Arbiom’s industrial plant.
•reach full production capacity so that the plant can produce 10 000 tons of protein-rich ingredient per year.
•industrially validate several foods, pet food and aquafeed applications for Arbiom’s ingredients.
To achieve these objectives, the project aims to:
•validate the environmental, economic, and social sustainability of a large-scale value chain allowing creation of protein for food and feed from underused resources.
•ensure product quality and consistency.
•formulate nutritious and sustainable food, feed and aquafeed prototypes that meet market demand.
•foster industrial replication of the plant.
Plant Construction:
o Finalization the plant’s detailed engineering design, optimizing CAPEX.
o Obtained building and ICPE (environmental) permits despite delays caused by regulatory questions and fundraising setbacks.
o Engaged engineering firms through a structured Request for Proposal (RFP) process; final discussions are pending further financial commitments.
Prototype and Product Development:
o Food prototypes using Yusto® (e.g. sauces, meat analogs) were developed and evaluated. Adjustments are ongoing for product optimization.
o Feedstock trials confirmed SylPro®’s potential, with compatibility demonstrated in fermentation processes using woody sugars.
o Initial sensory analyses validated SylPro®’s taste and nutritional attributes, with further trials scheduled to address consistency.
Supply Chain and Sustainability:
o Delivered C5 and C6 sugar syrups for testing. Fermentation trials showed that C5 sugars could replace part of conventional sugars, and C6 sugars achieved 100% replacement rates.
o Successfully identified alder as a viable alternative feedstock to birch, enabling flexibility in sourcing.
o Focused on minimizing environmental impact by refining sugar production processes, improving feedstock quality, and reducing inhibitors.
Quality and Regulatory Compliance:
o Established specifications and conducted sensory, nutritional, and purity analyses for Yusto® and SylPro®.
o Validated a two-year shelf life for packaging materials under industry-standard conditions.
o Progressed toward certifications like ISO 22000 and GMP+, supported by plant design improvements.
o Finalization the plant’s detailed engineering design, optimizing CAPEX.
o Obtained building and ICPE (environmental) permits despite delays caused by regulatory questions and fundraising setbacks.
o Engaged engineering firms through a structured Request for Proposal (RFP) process; final discussions are pending further financial commitments.
Prototype and Product Development:
o Food prototypes using Yusto® (e.g. sauces, meat analogs) were developed and evaluated. Adjustments are ongoing for product optimization.
o Feedstock trials confirmed SylPro®’s potential, with compatibility demonstrated in fermentation processes using woody sugars.
o Initial sensory analyses validated SylPro®’s taste and nutritional attributes, with further trials scheduled to address consistency.
Supply Chain and Sustainability:
o Delivered C5 and C6 sugar syrups for testing. Fermentation trials showed that C5 sugars could replace part of conventional sugars, and C6 sugars achieved 100% replacement rates.
o Successfully identified alder as a viable alternative feedstock to birch, enabling flexibility in sourcing.
o Focused on minimizing environmental impact by refining sugar production processes, improving feedstock quality, and reducing inhibitors.
Quality and Regulatory Compliance:
o Established specifications and conducted sensory, nutritional, and purity analyses for Yusto® and SylPro®.
o Validated a two-year shelf life for packaging materials under industry-standard conditions.
o Progressed toward certifications like ISO 22000 and GMP+, supported by plant design improvements.
In product development, food prototypes using Yusto® were created and evaluated, while feedstock trials confirmed SylPro®’s compatibility with woody sugars in fermentation. Initial sensory tests validated SylPro®’s taste and nutritional value.
On the sustainability front, C5 and C6 sugar syrups were tested, with C6 sugars achieving full replacement of conventional sources. Alder was identified as a viable alternative feedstock to birch, improving sourcing flexibility and reducing environmental impact.
On the sustainability front, C5 and C6 sugar syrups were tested, with C6 sugars achieving full replacement of conventional sources. Alder was identified as a viable alternative feedstock to birch, improving sourcing flexibility and reducing environmental impact.