China is the fastest and biggest growing economy in
the world and along with it, the country is also becoming the largest consumer
market. According to a recent report on global protein consumption, China is
predicted to cover 50% of the total consumption of protein worldwide till 2025.
However, current scenarios such as the spread of African swine fever, short
supply of poultry in the country, the trend of flexitarianism and the
environmental concerns has created new opportunities and approval for plant-based
proteins. Many local and international enterprise is trying to encash these
opportunities by offering new products and tastes for the customers. The most
common ingredients employed for the manufacturing of plant-based protein are
peas and soy, which are imported from other countries.
Recently, an Israeli startup FFW offered yeast as a
viable alternative to soy and pea protein in the plant-based industry. While
researching the meat analog market the founder of the company discovered that
the industry is mostly dominated by two main ingredients soy and protein.
However, he also noticed that soy, which is considered the king in the plant
protein industry, has some health issues associated with it such as allergies
and its uncontrolled farming have been associated with deforestation and
biodiversity loss. Furthermore, the second main ingredient in the plant protein
market is pea which requires greater processing, which drives up the price of
the final product and makes it less available for the consumer.
Yeast, however, contains 50 % protein and all
essential amino acids and is readily available in the market. Furthermore, it
has a good absorption rate, is cost-effective and has a very strong umami
flavor which can work best when used as a food additive. Though the company is
still in the developing phase and has yet to market its finished product, the
prospects seem quite bright as the prototype being developed is the imitation
of chicken strips, which contain approximately 25 % protein.
Prospects of Yeast as Alternate in Chinese
Plant-based Protein Industry:
Yeast industry belongs to the biological
manufacturing industry, which is one of the seven strategic emerging industries
in China. In recent years, China has become the region with the most rapid
growth of yeast production capacity in the world, and in 2016 the production
capacity reached 300,000tons. Therefore, if this ingredient is used as a
substitute for soy or pea in the plant protein industry in China, it will not
only reduce the production cost as it is readily available in the country but
will also create new opportunities for the local yeast manufacturers.