article · Microbial Cell Factories
Research in Nigeria demonstrates that locally available organic wastes, including cassava peels, yam peels, cereal by-products, fruit wastes, and sawdust, can effectively support single-cell protein production. Using yeasts, filamentous fungi, bacteria, and mixed cultures, these substrates achieve microbial growth and increased protein content, alongside reductions in fibre, cyanide, and other antinutritional factors. A limited number of studies also report short-term feeding trials indicating potential for feed applications. However, existing work remains largely restricted to laboratory-scale batch submerged or solid-state fermentation. Critical requirements for commercial implementation, such as process standardisation, downstream recovery, strain robustness, local techno-economic assessments, and regulatory frameworks, are currently underdeveloped. Furthermore, inconsistent measurement of protein quality, digestibility, and safety continues to separate laboratory findings from market-ready production.
Transforming abundant agricultural waste into single-cell protein could simultaneously improve waste management and expand local protein supplies for animal feed. Recognising the current gaps between laboratory experiments and market requirements helps researchers and funders focus on the technical, nutritional, and safety standards necessary to turn raw academic findings into viable products.
This approach could enable animal feed producers and agribusinesses to convert processing wastes into protein ingredients. The technology is currently at an early research stage, operating only at laboratory scale. Moving towards commercial use will require overcoming notable barriers, including establishing downstream recovery, undertaking local techno-economic analyses, standardising processes, and addressing regulatory requirements concerning safety, digestibility, and amino acid quality.
AI-generated from the published abstract. Always read the original work before citing.
Abstract This review examines the current state of single-cell protein (SCP) research based on waste-derived substrates in Nigeria, with emphasis on substrate choice, microbial systems, bioprocess strategies, performance reporting, and prospects for commercial translation. Evidence from Nigeria-focused studies shows that a broad range of locally available waste streams, particularly those containing cassava peels, yam peels, cereal byproducts, fruit wastes, and sawdust, can support microbial growth and protein content improvement when yeasts, filamentous fungi, bacteria, and, to a lesser extent, mixed cultures are used. Most studies clearly demonstrate biological feasibility, and several also report reductions in the levels of fibre, cyanide, or other antinutritional factors. A relatively small number of studies extend to short-term feeding trials, providing early support for feed-oriented application. Despite this promise, the Nigerian literature remains dominated by laboratory-scale studies based largely on simple solid-state or batch submerged fermentation systems. Important translational elements, including strain robustness, process standardisation, downstream recovery, local techno-economic assessment, and regulatory preparation, remain poorly developed. Inconsistently reported protein-related outcomes have been reported, with many studies relying on crude or soluble protein measurements without a deeper assessment of amino acid quality, digestibility, or product safety. As a result, a clear gap persists between demonstrated laboratory feasibility and market-ready SCP production.
This page summarises published work. The authoritative version sits with the publisher.
DOI: 10.1186/s12934-026-03081-z
Is something wrong with this record? Report it or request removal.
Discussion
Have you built on this work, tried to replicate it, or seen it applied in practice? Share what you know. Verified researchers and MARATTO™ domain experts can open a discussion, and any member can reply. Contributions are reviewed before they appear.
No discussion yet. Open the first thread.
New to MARATTO™? Create a free account.
