The global demand for protein is rapidly increasing due to population growth and changing dietary preferences, highlighting the need for sustainable alternatives to traditional animal-based proteins. This review explores cultivated meat and microbial alternative proteins, focusing on their potential to meet nutritional needs while mitigating environmental impacts. It also examines the production of cultivated meat as well as various sources of microbial proteins, including mycoproteins, bacterial proteins, and microalgae, highlighting their nutritional profiles, production methods, and commercial applications. This includes an evaluation of the state of commercialization of mycoproteins and the innovative use of agricultural and industrial by-products as substrates for microbial fermentation. The integration of microbial protein production with the bioenergy sector is evaluated as a relevant alternative to attain a synergetic effect between energy and food production systems. Ultimately, this work aims to underscore the importance of microbial proteins in advancing towards a more sustainable protein production system, offering insights into current challenges and future opportunities in the field of fermentation to produce alternative proteins.

This study aimed to produce betalain-rich powders by spray drying red beet extract using modified starch and maltodextrin blends as carrier materials, as well as to investigate the product storage stability as affected by water sorption and light exposure. The influence of spray drying conditions and carrier blends on the process yield, water content and solubility of the powders, betalain retention, and color parameters was assessed using a central composite design 2 ⁴ . The results of this screening allowed selection of four samples to further evaluation concerning their morphological characteristics, particle size distribution, water sorption properties, and betalain stability under light exposure. Samples formulated with carrier blends composed of equal amounts of modified starch and maltodextrin, used in a concentration of 35 g carriers/110 g of initial solution resulted in the higher betalain stability during 98 days of storage under exposure to light. Even though this formulation showed similar water sorption behavior to the other formulations studied, it also showed the best mechanical properties, indicating lower susceptibility to powder collapse.

Pequi (Caryocar brasiliense Camb.) is a fruit native to the Brazilian Cerrado with significant economic value. Its processing generates by-products often underused, such as its protein-rich almond. This study aimed to optimize and compare protein isolates obtained from defatted pequi almond cake using ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) and alkaline extraction (AE). The alkaline pH for protein solubilization was set at 9.5, and the isoelectric precipitation point at pH 4.8. UAE was optimized using a central composite design, with 56 W acoustic power, a solid-to-solvent ratio of 1/15.13 (g/mL), and extraction time of 15 min. UAE resulted in a yield of 47.25 % and protein recovery of 84.28 %, while AE achieved 41.35 % and 70.18 %, respectively. The protein isolate from UAE showed better functional properties, including higher foaming capacity and water absorption. In conclusion, UAE is a promising method for producing protein isolates, offering higher yield, shorter extraction time, and improved functional characteristics.

Turmeric oleoresin is a widely used a flavoring agent and a food color with relevant nutraceutical properties. It is obtained by organic solvent extraction of turmeric (Curcuma longa L.). Microencapsulation is a good alternative to transform liquid food flavorings free-flowing powders and to improve stability of protection of compounds of interest. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess microencapsulation by spray drying of turmeric oleoresin using blends of maltodextrin-gelatin and starch-gelatin, evaluating its sorption isotherms and the storage stability at different temperatures. Turmeric oleoresin encapsulated was stored at - 20, 25 and 60°C, in the absence of light, and at 25ºC in the presence of light, and analyzed over a period of 35 days for curcumin and total phenolic contents and color. The encapsulation efficiency was 72.3% for capsules with starch-gelatin blends and 52.1% with maltodextrin-gelatin blends. Besides the greater encapsulation efficiency, starch-gelatin blends also showed greater stability during storage and retention of curcumin and phenolic compounds. Encapsulated materials were more stable during storage at - 20ºC and less stable at 25°C in the presence of light. Water adsorption of turmeric oleoresin microcapsules were well described by GAB model and the microcapsules produced with starch-gelatin blends showed high hygroscopic behavior.