Of all the bizarre, futuristic ideas that have been presented as the future of food, Air Protein has to be one of the most strange. But it is also crazy fascinating, so hear us out.
A company called Air Protein is claiming that they are making protein from the air around us. They are harvesting the airborne microorganisms that live in the stuff we breathe, and growing them into a protein product. These microbes are cultivated using a combination of atmospheric carbon dioxide, oxygen, and hydrogen gas. Add a bit of power and shazam! Sky meat.
The process, termed air fermentation, eliminates the need for arable land, sunlight, or even favourable weather. This protein ingredient, produced directly from the air, will be initially employed in the manufacturing of imitation meat products. So why is this a superior product? According to the manufacturers, when raising livestock, it takes two years to get a steak as the end result. With air meat, you can get it in just a few hours.
Meat that resembles chicken, made from air protein
Where did this idea come from?
During the 1970s space program, NASA scientists investigated a method to sustain astronauts on extended space missions by converting atmospheric elements into protein. While this concept was abandoned at the time, it was later revived and refined by Dr. Lisa Dyson, and Dr. John Reed, of the Air Protein team. And these co-founders aren’t just some randos trying to make money. These are the final boss boffins
of all boffins: Overachievers extraordinaire. Dr. Dyson has a PhD in Physics from MIT where she conducted research in Theoretical Physics.
She was a Fulbright Scholar at the University of London, and has degrees in Mathematics and Physics from Brandeis University. Dr. John Reed earned a PhD and an MS degree in Material Science and Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology as well as degrees in Biology and Material Science from UC Berkeley. Dr. Reed is also an inventor who holds dozens of patents. So you can imagine what happens when minds like this get together. And here’s what they have to say. According to Air Protein, “In 2019 we grew the world’s first meat made from elements of the air. In addition to growing protein or meat, it has the potential to output a broad range of foods and ingredients across a wide breadth of categories, creating a new future.”
Air Protein powder, before it is turned into a meat substitute
Air Protein: No Land Needed
So, imagine farming food without needing any land. Air Protein claims they are creating meat that’s healthy, sustainable, and no plants or animals are harmed during the process. Like other meat substitute companies, they use a fermentation process similar to making beer or yogurt, but with air instead of plants.
The cultures are whisked together with water and air. “We harvest and purify air protein in a matter of days and then move it to the next stage of drying to remove the water. The outcome is a rich protein flour with a protein profile similar to animal protein and richer in nutrients and amino acids than soy protein.” And the company claim it to be nutritious. “Air Protein is rich in vitamins, minerals, and nutrients, with all 20 amino acids, including all 9 essential amino acids and 2 times the amino acids of soybeans. It contains more protein per kilogram than most other proteins and is free from GMOs, pesticides, herbicides, hormones, and antibiotics.”
And their protein has higher yields than most other proteins. “Our economic models project that our landless protein farming process is more cost effective than other forms of protein farming. Air Protein has cracked the code on landless agriculture and supply chain free protein manufacturing.”
Air Protein Scallops
When does it become available?
The company have commissioned their first manufacturing site, in San Leandro, California. This will be a commercial-scale Air Protein plant. While the ideal endgame is to make their protein powder into versions of chicken, beef, pork, and seafood, they say they are still working on making it taste and feel identical.
But, they say, their product is also “suitable as an ingredient in protein-enriched pasta, cereals, and beverages.” While pasta made from protein powder is completely reasonable and would readily be accepted by most people, meat substitutes might not be accepted as quickly. Ask yourself, would you try the air protein? Will you even know you are eating it if you are in a restaurant? Is this the great substitute the world is looking for? Let’s keep watching.
Air Protein tacos… doesn’t look different to the real thing.
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