Reaching Greatness through Small Beginnings.
In order to sustainably meet the nutritional needs of a growing global population, the so-called “protein gap” must be addressed through alternative plant-based protein sources. The water lentil, with its remarkable attributes as both animal feed and human food, will play a pivotal role in this pursuit.
Background of Global Population Growth
The rapid expansion of the world’s population, currently at around 7.8 billion and projected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050, will result in a significant surge in the demand for protein-rich diets. Transitioning countries like China, India, or Brazil are expected to experience at least a 55% surge in demand for meat products by 2050. This poses a substantial challenge to our climate, considering the land requirement of about 250m2/kg and a carbon footprint of 165kg CO2e/kg solely for beef.
Additionally, the escalating land demand and ensuing environmental damage will lead to a steep rise in prices of existing protein sources.
The Concept
With a protein content of up to 40% of its dry weight and a doubling rate of 24 hours, the water lentil is recognized as one of the fastest-growing, more advanced flowering plants. Its nutritional composition, encompassing starch, protein, fat, minerals, vitamins, phytosterols, amino acids, and fatty acid profiles, aligns with the values recommended by the World Health Organization for human nutrition. We envision fully automated production and distribution of protein-rich water lentils to replace land-intensive and environmentally harmful animal feeds, such as soybeans.
Furthermore, water lentils could be utilized for producing protein-rich human food, offering a direct alternative to animal proteins. Progressing from small to medium, and then to a proprietary facility, we are presently investigating various water lentil species for their properties and suitability for large-scale production, exploring utilization methods, and strategizing the financing of a prototype facility.