A life cycle assessment of protein production from wheatgrass: Optimization potential of a novel vertical farming system

Abstract

The global protein demand is expected to keep increasing due to a growing global population, combined with changing social demography and other factors. OrbiPlant®, a novel vertical farming technology developed in Germany, is used to cultivate wheatgrass (Triticum aestivum) as one possible solution for realizing a sustainable protein supply to meet this challenge. The objective of this study was to investigate the environmental impacts of wheatgrass protein concentrate powder produced in the novel vertical farming system and compare it with traditional protein sources (cheese and soy protein). To achieve this, a ‘cradle-to-gate’ life cycle assessment (LCA) was performed using OpenLCA software and Environment Footprint 3.1 method. The results show that wheatgrass protein from vertical farming has lower environmental impacts than cheese protein in terms of terrestrial eutrophication, and land use, similar impacts on freshwater ecotoxicity and particulate matter, but higher impacts in other categories. Due to the high environmental impact of the current Germany electricity mix, the overall environmental performance of wheatgrass protein remains non-competitive to traditional protein sources. By optimizing production, the environmental impact can be reduced to just 57.8 % of the cheese protein. This finding highlights the potential of the investigated wheatgrass protein from vertical farming system to reduce environmental impacts when substituting animal-based protein. Furthermore, it emphasizes the importance of utilizing renewable energy sources.