Rising Cost Boost Prospects For Microbial-Based Protein As Alternative Feed
From Nurunnasihah Ahmad Rashid
ALMETYEVSK (Russia), May 16 (Bernama) -- As global agriculture and agrifood supply chains encounter rising costs and supply uncertainties, alternative protein products are emerging as a potential growth area, especially in the animal feed sector.
Against this backdrop, Russia’s Tatneft group is positioning microbial-based protein feed developed by its biotechnology subsidiary, TN Bioprotein LLC, as a potential lower-cost and more sustainable alternative to conventional soy-based animal feed.
TN Bioprotein director Hakimov Rigel said through its pilot plant here, the product, which has been produced using natural gas and microbial fermentation technology, is expected to support the demand for animal feeds in the livestock and aquaculture industries.
He said the company sees strong long-term potential for microbial protein products as the global feed industry searches for more efficient alternatives.
“The classic protein used in the market is soy. Our product is better according to the amino acid and protein composition, and it is more digestible for animals,” he told Bernama during a media visit organised by the Strategic Vision Group “Russia-Islamic World”, in Almetyevsk, Tatarstan, recently.
The media tour was held in conjunction with the 17th International Economic Forum “Russia-Islamic World: KazanForum 2026”, from May 12-17.
Rigel said, unlike conventional soy cultivation, microbial protein production requires significantly less agricultural land and can be produced continuously using methane derived from natural gas, potentially offering a more sustainable solution for the future feed industry.
“It is estimated that 30,000 tonnes of bioprotein could support feed requirements linked to food production for between six million and 10 million people annually.
“Although still at an early commercialisation stage, aquaculture is currently among the sectors showing the strongest interest in the product,” he said.
Rigel said the microbial protein entered the Russian market last year through the company’s pilot production facility, with efforts now focused on expanding domestic production capacity before entering international markets.
He said the company’s future large-scale production facility in Nizhnekamsk, Tatarstan, is expected to produce up to 30,000 tonnes annually upon completion in 2029, compared with the current pilot facility’s capacity of about 1,000 tonnes.
Rigel highlighted that the product has received halal certification in Russia, potentially supporting future expansion into Muslim-majority markets, including Southeast Asia and the Middle East.
“The technology traces its origins to Soviet-era research in the 1960s, when scientists explored hydrocarbon-based protein feed production to address shortages of high-quality animal feed.
“However, modern automation systems, enhanced safety studies and improved production processes have significantly upgraded the technology compared to earlier Soviet-era developments,” he said.
-- BERNAMA