However, for the next generation, air cakes can really become a dish thanks to a company based in Berkeley, California producing the first ’air’ meat. Using a method originally proposed by NASA, Air Protein claims to have produced meat substitutes from air components using special bacteria.
Naming the invention as ’the most sustainable protein’, they claim the fake meats are rich in vitamins and nutrients and have a similar protein configuration to the real thing.
Bacterial-derived meat can not only be used in burgers, tacos and sausages, but they can also be used to make protein-rich cereals, pastas and drinks.
However, it may take some time before these aerial meats appear in a supermarket near your home, the company is still working to provide a viable commercial product.
The inspiration for Air Protein’s fake meat production comes from a NASA project dating back to the 1960s. Tired of producing food for astronauts on year-long missions in spacecraft. With tight pillars, limited fuel, researchers have discovered special bacteria called "hydrootrophs" - like plants that can turn carbon dioxide into food.
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As they imagine, the carbon dioxide exhaled by the astronauts will be captured by the bacteria, adding some water and energy, which in turn will create sustained food for astronauts.
The new approach makes a small change in this concept, using bacteria to transform basic airborne components including carbon dioxide, nitrogen and oxygen into a nutritious protein powder from which can create ’fake meat’.
Similar to NASA’s proposal, water, mineral nutrients and energy are added to produce powders with Air Protein using renewable sources.
The process works in a similar way to brewing beer and yogurt. Unlike real meat, this airy meat can be produced in hours instead of months, requiring a relatively small portion of land and completely unaffected by weather or seasons.
According to Air Protein, meat-like products are ’rich in vitamins and minerals’ and have an amino acid profile similar to real meat proteins.
The inclusion of important meat B vitamins in the air will benefit vegetarians because B12 is restricted in the diet. According to clear statistics: Lisa Dyson, CEO of Air Protein, said: , our current fuels are under extreme stress, as evidenced by the Amazon being burned by deforestation and drought rising steadily. ’We need to produce more food with our dependence on land and water resources. Meat air solves these resource problems.
’We believe that air meat is the next development of a sustainable production food movement, which will be one of the solutions to feeding the growing population without straining natural resources. ’ Experts predict that the global population will reach 10 billion by 2050, increasing 70% of food production demand.
Air-based proteins can be made to resemble familiar meats used in a variety of dishes. ’Our favorite meat dishes from chicken, carne asada, smoked meat, burgers, tacos and meatballs can be enjoyed when they are not of animal origin,’ Air suggested. their website.
Air Protein has been developed by a larger company than Kiverdi, which uses similar bacteria to turn carbon dioxide into industrial goods, clothing items and other products.
