KNOW ABOUT SINGLE CELL PROTEIN (SCP)

 Single Cell Protein (SCP)

Conventional agricultural production of cereals, pulses, vegetables,
fruits etc., may not be able to meet the demand of food with the rate at
which human and animal population is increasing.
The shift from grain to meat diets also creates more demand for cereals
as it takes 3-10 kg of grain to produce 1 kg of meat by animal farming.
One of the alternate sources of proteins for animal and human
nutrition is Single Cell Protein (SCP). Microbes are being grown on
industrial scale as a source of good protein.
Microbes like Spirulina can be grown easily on materials like waste
water from potato processing plants (containing starch), straw,
molasses, animal manure and even sewage to produce large quantities
and can serve as food rich in protein, minerals, fats, carbohydrate and
vitamins.
Such utilisation also reduces environmental pollution. It has been
estimated that in a day, 250 g of microorganisms like Methylophilus
methylotrophus, because of its high rate of biomass production and
growth can be expected to produce 25 tonnes of protein.