China approves CO2-turned protein as new sustainable animal feed material

China’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs has officially approved a new bioengineered protein derived from carbon dioxide (CO₂) as a feed material. This is reported by China Daily, a partner of TV BRICS.

The newly approved protein is produced from Yarrowia lipolytica yeast using bio-fermentation technology. The process captures CO₂ emissions from high-intensity industrial sectors such as coal chemistry, natural gas processing, and steelmaking and converts them into high-value yeast protein. This innovation offers a highly efficient alternative to conventional agricultural and aquaculture-based protein sources.

Production efficiency is a key advantage. A 10-hectare yeast protein facility is capable of generating 100,000 tonnes of high-quality protein per year, equivalent to the soy protein output from approximately 40,000 hectares of cultivated land.

In addition to its scalability, the yeast protein has high nutritional value. It contains a balanced composition of essential amino acids, along with trace elements and polysaccharides, ensuring strong palatability and digestibility for animal feed applications.

Official data indicates that the country consumed approximately 70 million tonnes of feed protein in 2024, with an import dependency exceeding 80 per cent. The introduction of this domestically produced, CO₂-based feed protein could therefore play a crucial role in reducing reliance on imported soybeans and fishmeal while promoting a circular, low-emission agricultural model.

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