Single Cell Protein Production: A Review

A B S T R A C T The increasing world deficiency of protein is becoming a major problem for human kind. Some of the underdeveloped countries like Algeria, Botswana, Nigeria, Madagascar etc., are facing major food and nutrition deficiency problems. India, although a developed nation, its major population is facing nutrition deficiency and food scarcity problems. In the face of such worldwide issues, single cell proteins derived from the waste organic products had been proved a very useful technology. Dried cells of bacteria, algae, yeast, and fungi, which are rich in proteins and could be used as dietary supplements, are called Single Cell Proteins (SCP). The present review focuses on use of a variety of substrates for cultivation of single cell protein. The various substrates which have been used as the common material for the production of various types of Single Cell Protein includes orange peel residue, sweet orange residue, sugarcane residue, paper mill waste rice husk, wheat straw residue, cassava waste, sugar beet pulp, coconut waste, grape waste, mango waste, etc..Microbial protein or SCP has various benefits over animal and plant proteins in that its requirement for growth are neither seasonal or climate dependent; it can be produced all round the year. It does not require a large expanse of land and it has high protein content with wide amino acid spectrum, low fat content and higher protein carbohydrate ratio than forages. It can be grown on waste and it is environmental friendly as it helps in recycling waste. It is therefore aimed at reviewing the production and processing of SCP from various substrates. K e y w o r d s