A Review on Recent Processing and Bioprocessing Developments in Alternative Proteins: Sources, Modification Methods, Economic Feasibility, and Future Challenges

Summary

This systematic review integrates recent developments in alternative protein processing across plant, insect, and mycoprotein sources, examining extraction methods, emerging modification technologies (non-thermal and biological approaches), and dual-method strategies. The authors evaluate techno-functional improvements and analytical techniques for structural tracking whilst assessing economic feasibility for commercialisation. The review identifies cost scalability and unexplored flavour modification as critical barriers to widespread industrial adoption.

Regional applicability

The review's focus on alternative protein processing technologies and economic scalability is relevant to UK policy objectives around sustainable protein transition and food security. UK food businesses and regulators evaluating alternative protein processing investments should consider the reported capital requirements and cost-scalability constraints when assessing technology adoption feasibility, though the findings should be contextualised within UK regulatory frameworks for novel foods and emerging protein industries.

Key measures

Techno-functional attributes (foaming, solubility, emulsification, digestibility); allergenicity reduction; structural changes tracked via analytical techniques (atomic force microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared, Raman spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, scanning electron microscopy, circular dichroism, X-ray diffraction); capital installation costs for processing technologies (e.g. high-pressure processing: $0.5–$2.5 million)

Outcomes reported

The review synthesises extraction and modification technologies (non-thermal and biological methods) for plant, insect, and mycoprotein sources, and evaluates their techno-functional improvements, analytical tracking methods, and economic feasibility for industrial scaling. It identifies cost scalability and flavour modification as key barriers to industrial adoption of dual-approach technologies.

Topic tags