Cell culture media from yeast

Project aims

This project focuses on creating a sustainable nutrient source for cultivated meat by utilizing lupin waste and a special yeast. Here are the specific aims:

1. Characterization of lupin byproducts: The team will analyze various lupin waste products to identify the one with the best nutritional profile for growing yeast. They will evaluate protein, lipids, and fiber content of lupin byproducts to ensure they are suitable for fermentation by the lipid-producing yeast.
2. Enzyme hydrolysis: The team will treat the selected lupin byproduct with microbial enzymes that can transform indigestible plant fibers into simpler sugars and nutrients to create a nutrient-rich liquid (hydrolysate) that can support yeast growth.
3. Growing lipid-producing yeast: The team will grow the lipid-producing yeast using the nutrient-rich hydrolysate from the previous step. They will maximize the yield of yeast biomass, which will be rich in lipids essential for cultivated meat production.
4. Creating a yeast extract supplement: After growing the yeast, the team will process it to create a concentrated yeast extract. This extract will be rich in vitamins, lipids, and proteins, making it a valuable ingredient for cultivated meat cell culture media.
5. Testing for animal cell growth: Finally, the team will evaluate how well the yeast extract supports the growth of animal cells for cultivated meat. They will compare its effectiveness to existing commercial supplements to demonstrate its potential.

By achieving these aims, this project will contribute to more sustainable and cost-effective methods of producing cultivated meat cell culture media.