{"id":960,"date":"2021-09-29T10:26:00","date_gmt":"2021-09-29T10:26:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.prnasia.com\/story\/archive\/3523010_AE23010_0"},"modified":"2021-09-29T10:26:00","modified_gmt":"2021-09-29T10:26:00","slug":"hong-kongs-first-biotech-firm-to-cultivate-microalgae-for-its-abundant-plant-based-protein-for-consumer-application","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/transmediavictoria.net.au\/?p=960","title":{"rendered":"Hong Kong’s first biotech firm to cultivate microalgae for its abundant plant-based protein for consumer application"},"content":{"rendered":"
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HONG KONG<\/span>, Sept. 29, 2021<\/span> \/PRNewswire\/ — The bioscience start-up, Geb Impact Technology Company Limited has developed an advanced technology to rapidly cultivate clear water single-celled microalgae. Microalgae are the abundant and sustainable source of high-quality plant-based protein, fit for human consumption, and microalgae-based protein could revolutionise the traditional vegetarian food market. For the nearly 700 million people that go hungry[1]<\/span><\/sup> that is a potential life-saver. For the health-conscious, plant-based protein products are a life-changer.<\/p>\n

Geb Impact Technology is cultivating Euglena Gracillis<\/i>, a natural species of microalgae, in a low-carbon and sustainable process, with minimal impact to the environment. The firm’s technology produces protein content that exceeds 50% by weight of the biomass, which is a significant achievement within the industry and academia \u2013 48 % is the current record achieved by researchers at the University of Tsukuba<\/span>.<\/p>\n

The Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Fund (ITF) under the Enterprise Support Scheme (ESS) has validated the firm’s promising work by awarding funding for further research. As much as HK$2 million will be jointly invested by the firm and the fund to scale up this unique microalgae cultivation process.<\/p>\n

The research into microalgae for nutritional ingredients is on a fast track. The funding will place Hong Kong<\/span> among the world’s leading destinations for research into producing high-quality plant-based protein from microalgae that can replace animal protein.<\/p>\n

Dao Foods International, Inc.,<\/span> an impact investment firm, have also invested in Geb Impact. The partnership focuses on bringing this advanced, sustainable technology to market, with a longer-term view to create delectable plant-based, protein-rich food for the rapidly growing vegan and vegetarian consumer base in the China<\/span> market.<\/p>\n

Nature’s tiny powerhouses<\/b><\/p>\n

Microalgae single-cell organisms are protein dense, could replace meat, and were consumed by the Aztecs and their Mesoamerican neighbours as a nutritional supplement[2]<\/sup>.<\/span> There are as many as 1 million different species living in fresh and salt water, pumping out about half of all the oxygen in the Earth’s atmosphere. Some species are stocked with protein, antioxidants, and beneficial dietary supplements, such as vitamins and minerals.<\/p>\n

Geb Impact’s proprietary microalgae cultivation process has a direct and positive environmental impact. The sustainable process uses less water and less energy, can be used to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, has a low carbon footprint, is highly productive, uses no harmful chemicals.<\/p>\n

A diet rich in plant-based protein has major benefits that improve human nutrition and the planet’s health.<\/p>\n