{"id":101778,"key":"Methane_Single_Cell_Protein:_securing_protein_supply_during_global_food_catastrophes","title":"Methane Single Cell Protein: securing protein supply during global food catastrophes","latest":{"id":1224481,"timestamp":"2026-01-09T00:55:33Z"},"content_model":"wikitext","license":{"url":"https://www.appropedia.org/Appropedia:Copyrights","title":"CC-BY-SA-4.0"},"source":"{{FAST notice}}\n\n[[File:Methaneregvs24.png|thumb]]\n\n{{Publication data\n| type = Paper\n| cite-as = García Martínez, J.B., Pearce, J.M., Throup, J., Cates, J., Lackner, M. and Denkenberger, D.C., Methane Single Cell Protein: potential to secure global protein supply against catastrophic food shocks. ''Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology'', p.1125. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbioe.2022.906704/abstract [https://www.academia.edu/83706931/Methane_Single_Cell_Protein_Potential_to_Secure_a_Global_Protein_Supply_Against_Catastrophic_Food_Shocks Academia OA], [https://osf.io/94mkg/ OSF Preprint]\n| authors = Juan B. García Martínez, User:J.M.Pearce, James Throup, Jacob Cates, Maximilian Lackner, and David C. Denkenberger\n| year = 2022\n}}\n\nGlobal catastrophes such as a supervolcanic eruption, asteroid impact or nuclear winter could cause global agricultural collapse due to reduced sunlight reaching Earth's surface. Human civilization's food production system is unprepared to respond to such events, but methane single cell protein (SCP) could be a key part of the solution. Current preparedness centers around food stockpiling, an excessively expensive solution given that an abrupt sunlight reduction scenario (ASRS) could hamper conventional agriculture for 5 to 10 years. Instead, it is more cost-effective to consider resilient food production techniques requiring little to no sunlight.\n\nThis study analyses the potential of SCP produced from methane (natural gas and biogas) as a resilient food source for global catastrophic food shocks from ASRS. The following are quantified: global production potential of methane SCP, capital costs, material and energy requirements, ramp-up rates and retail prices. In addition, potential bottlenecks to fast deployment are considered.\n\nWhile providing a more valuable, protein-rich product than alternatives, the production capacity could be slower to ramp up. Based on 24/7 construction of facilities, 7-11% of global protein requirements could be fulfilled at the end of the first year. Despite significant remaining uncertainties, methane SCP shows significant potential to prevent global protein starvation during an ASRS at an affordable price — US$3-5/kg dry.\n\n{{Pearce publications notice}}\n\n== See also ==\n\n{{Alt-food}}\n\n{{Page data\n| title-tag = Methane Single Cell Protein: Food Catastrophes\n| keywords = Global catastrophic risk, Existential risk, Single cell protein, methanotrophic bacteria, Resilient food, Food security, Global Catastrophic Food Shock, Nuclear winter alternative food, Resilient food, alternative food, AI, global catastrophic risk\n| sdg = SDG02 Zero hunger, SDG12 Responsible consumption and production\n| published = 2022\n| organizations = Free Appropriate Sustainable Technology, Western, ALLFED\n| license = CC-BY-SA-4.0\n| language = en\n| description = Appropedia explains methane single-cell protein as a resilient food option when agriculture is disrupted.\n}}\n\n[[Category:FAST Completed]]\n[[Category:sustainable development]]\n[[Category:Food]]\n[[Category:AI]]"}