Upscaling the production of microorganisms as a source of sustainable, high biological value proteins

The present article reviews the current state of production of microorganisms as a source of nutrients, with emphasis on microbial groups such as yeasts, bacteria, cyanobacteria and microalgae, which show a high potential for their massive production. Many microorganisms can be a source of nutritious, sustainable ingredients for both, human populations and livestock. Food items derived from fisheries and agriculture have an important role in satisfying the current human population needs. However, it is forecast that the growth of these industries will be restricted due to overfishing and unavailability of arable land. Among the alternative sources of nutrients, the biomass produced from several microbial sources has been considered a promising substitute for the proteins currently supplied by plants and animals.