Microbial protein, potential markets

When sufficiently high levels of expression and protein accumulation are achieved, efficient downstream processing protocols must be developed to insure product quality and the economic feasibility of production. As the demand for safe, recombinant pharmaceutical proteins continues to expand, the market potential of plant-produced recombinant proteins is considerable. Molecular farming can produce recombinant proteins at a lower cost than traditional expression systems based on microbial or animal cell culture, and without the risk of contamination with human pathogens. 

FDA was asked also to consider refined sugar as a potential feed stock. On account of the high yields laboratory work is being carried out on sugar but, due to the lack of functionality of the protein product, no market yet is in sight. However, at current price levels, the cost of digestible carbohydrate automatically would require the microbial product to enter the high price end of the food protein market. 

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