Replacing conventional meat with mycoprotein: relative and absolute environmental perspectives

Abstract

The global food production system is accountable for a substantial share of anthropogenic environmental impacts, driven by a growing population and increasing per capita meat consumption. Finding sustainable protein sources is fundamental to reducing the impact of our food system, but more research is needed to bring novel products into consumers' diet. Mycoprotein is a meat substitute obtained from fungal biomass showing an improved environmental profile and unexplored market potential. In this study, we evaluated the environmental performance of a novel mycoprotein obtained from Yarrowia lipolytica and suggested optimization strategies. From a lab-scale proof of concept, we designed a commercial production plant simulation to retrieve a cradle-to-gate inventory. Mycoprotein and most consumed meats were compared across United States, Europe and Brazil in a cradle-to-grave life cycle assessment, while the planetary boundaries framework added an absolute sustainability perspective. Results show a superior environmental performance of mycoprotein compared to beef in all impact categories except water use, where it shows 40 % increased impact. No significant variation is observed across mycoprotein production locations. Mycoprotein shows significant sensitivity (up to a 2.2-fold increase) to the selected functional units, based on different protein digestibility scores. From an absolute sustainability perspective, completely replacing beef with mycoprotein in an average diet shows the least transgression levels of planetary boundaries, although optimization of the food supply chain is necessary to stay within the limits. The major hotspot is found in the egg white used as binder in the formulated product, suggesting a plant-based substitute. With potato starch as potential replacement, we observe up to a 97 % impact reduction, achieving better performance than beef, pork and chicken meat in all impact categories with the except of climate change, where mycoprotein still shows 33 % higher impacts than chicken. With this study, we demonstrated the potential of combining process simulation and relative and absolute life cycle assessment from early stages to lead optimization strategies. Such multi-disciplinary approach can minimize future design change costs, facilitating development and commercialization of novel sustainable food products.