Sophie’s Bionutrients

Sophie's Bionutrients is a Singapore-based next-generation sustainable urban food production company that leverages technology to increase sustainable protein production in order to address global food security and supply chain disruptions.

Microalgae, a key source of nutrients in the ocean, has been used to produce a new sustainable plant-based protein. The company uses a proprietary microalgae strain that can grow in a fermentation tank with limited amount of water, can be fed a variety of food waste, and can be harvested in a matter of days. This microalgae contains 60% protein with a high quality essential amino acid profile, exceeding WHO protein product requirements.

The company recently developed microalgae-based burger patties, the product of months of research and development in a local lab. Sophie's Bionutrients provides an unadulterated protein-rich plant-based flour by scaling up a protein source from single-cell microalgae. The flour is extruded into textured protein crumbles to obtain a chewy, meat-like consistency. Following that, the crumbles are turned into patties. Each production batch, which produces 20 to 100 units, takes about a week to complete.

This can be a sustainable food source because of the following factors:

• It requires limited land mass and can be achieved indoors reducing deforestation.
• The production time is short, just 3-10 days, compared to 45-65 days for soy and 1.5 years for beef.
• The whole system can be set up near a metropolitan area to reduce the need for agriculture and transportation, addressing the world's current food security and supply chain disruption concerns.
• There will be no pesticide, herbicide, antibiotic, or growth hormone used during the whole process.
• 90%+ of the water can be recycled. Very little water is used.

Using microalgae and patent-pending technologies, this solution claims to  support the food industry by producing 100% plant-based and safe alternative proteins. Sophie's Bionutrients owned facility will launch by end of 2021.