Chemical Engineering July 2023 - 33

SCALING UP ALTERNATIVE PROTEIN PRODUCTION
With the process for alternative protein manufacturing still evolving (see for example, The
Protein Shift, Chem. Eng., April 2023, pp. 12-16) required technologies and equipment
will continue to change.
Alternative protein producers will face different challenges at various stages of their
commercial journey; these challenges will differ, for example, when getting the processes
right at the laboratory stages versus scaling up the process for commercialization.
Finding the right process, utility, equipment and utility infrastructure will be key to maintaining
business agility and meeting sustainability commitments. This includes sizing of bioreactors
and their potential capacity for the cell culturing process to meet business requirements
today and in the future. It also covers optimization of water and energy sustainability efforts.
Prioritizing sustainability
Black & Veatch (B&V) NextGen Ag assisted Aleph Farms, an Israel-based cultivated meat
startup, to achieve its goal " to eliminate emissions associated with its meat production by
2025 and reach the same net-zero emissions across its entire supply chain by 2030. "
The sustainable food-systems pioneer has committed to net-zero emissions across its
supply chain, leveraging existing plans for its pilot plant (BioFarm) to reach sustainability
goals at scale.
The partnership leveraged B&V's expertise with sustainable production and process design
to build a resilient, compliant and sustainable infrastructure for large-scale production,
embracing foundational principles of circular economy and renewable energy.
In Asia, B&V supported the world's first industrial-scale FeedKind facility in China.
FeedKind is an alternative feed ingredient for the aquaculture and animal feed industry
produced via natural fermentation that does not use arable land, animal or plant ingredients
and uses very little water in its production.
The bio-fermentation facility developed by Calysseo was designed and built ahead-ofschedule
by a consortium of B&V and Shanghai LBT Engineering & Technology Co. Ltd.
As the consortium leader, B&V provided project management, process design and global
procurement expertise.
The facility (Figure 2) - located in the Changshou Economic and Technological Development
Area (CETDA), Chongqing Province, China - will produce 20,000 ton/yr of lowcarbon
animal feed.
❐
breaking down their sustainability
goals into individual initiatives that
examine risk, cost and the return on
that investment.
To scale technology and infrastructure
correctly and cost-effectively
to feed a growing global
population while mitigating geopolitical
risks, food-and-beverage
producers, including agriculture
technology leaders, will need to find
partners that have engineering and
construction knowledge and expertise
to deploy and scale infrastructure
efficiently and effectively.
Industry experts help businesses
bridge the gap between science, research
and development, engineering
and commercialization to bring
new food-technologies to market,
at scale. They provide emerging
companies and established manufacturers
with end-to-end services
from early-stage design and innovation
to turnkey facility design.
The ideal partner supports clients at
every stage of the project lifecycle,
from process and development to
engineering through the design and
construction of a pilot scale or commercial
manufacturing facility. n
Edited by Gerald Ondrey
References
1. Clear Seas Research, BNP Media, 2021, www.bv.com/resources/integrating-production-and-sustainability-how-foodbeverage-companies-can-achieve-net.
Author
David
Ziskind is the managing
director, Food & Manufacturing
Solutions at Black & Veatch (B&V;
11401
Lamar
Ave.,
Overland
Park, KS 66211; Email: ziskindd@
bv.com). B&V's Food and Manufacturing
practice focuses on future
food technologies through its
NextGen Ag brand. Ziskind's responsibilities
include the development
of B&V's innovative scaleup and sustainablemanufacturing
solutions across multiple production
technologies. He is a registered professional engineer
(PE) in Georgia and Kentucky, and a project management
professional (PMP). Ziskind holds a B.S.E.E. degree
from Georgia Institute of Technology and a masters
of engineering management from the University of Louisville.
He resides in Atlanta, Ga. with his wife and three
boys and enjoys the outdoors and traveling.
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Chemical Engineering July 2023

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