CHICAGO — A NASA-funded start-up is using fermentation technology to create lab-grown protein. <br /><br />Eating meat is killing our environment, but getting everyone to give it up is kind of like mission impossible. This is why alt-meat start-ups have come up with all kinds of ways to create an alternative source of protein that doesn't involve exploiting the land for farming and livestock.<br /><br />According to Bloomberg, biotech start-up Sustainable Bioproducts is trying to replicate behavior from volcanic microbes found in hot springs at Yellowstone National Park to create lab-grown protein.<br /><br />The company has been able to grow protein using fermentation technology. Researchers feed starch and glycerin to the high-protein microbes, which react by multiplying quickly. <br /><br />The resulting protein contains nine key amino acids that are essential for the human diet. The substance can be used to create a meat-like product, mixed to make yogurt or shaped into a plant-based burger patty.<br /><br />According to Food Dive, the NASA-funded company recently received $33 million dollars in Series A funding. Investors include Microsoft's Bill Gates, Amazon's Jeff Bezos, Bloomberg's Michael Bloomberg and Virgin Group's Richard Branson.
