WO2023215488A1

WO2023215488A1 - Fermentation of upcycled feedstocks

Info

Publication number: WO2023215488A1
Application number: PCT/US2023/021018
Authority: WO
Inventors: Andrea Schoen; Michelle RUIZ
Original assignee: Hyfé Foods, Inc.
Priority date: 2022-05-04
Filing date: 2023-05-04
Publication date: 2023-11-09

Abstract

Provided is a method for fermenting upcycled water feedstocks, such as waste feedstocks from food or beverage processes. Since feedstock is a major cost driver for most fermentation processes, use of waste feedstocks can meaningfully lower the cost of producing food, medicine, energy, and materials using fermentative biotechnology.

Description

FERMENTATION OF UPCYCLED FEEDSTOCKS

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates to the field of fermentation, specifically fermentation of waste feedstocks.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/338,055, filed May 4, 2022, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

[0003] Biotechnology, such as fermentation, holds incredible potential for producing food, medicine, energy, and materials. Feedstocks provide the nutrients — the basic building blocks of life — to support microbial growth during fermentation. Much of the resiliency and adaptability of fermentation derives from its innate malleability with regard to these feedstock raw material inputs.

[0004] At the same time, feedstock is a major cost driver for most fermentation processes. Thus, a great deal of optimization is possible in engineering industrial-scale production schemes to use unconventional feedstocks, including potential side streams from other industries. This presents potential gains for both economic viability and sustainability.

[0005] At present, most fermentation relies on fairly standardized, refined, sugar-based feedstocks. These have a long history of validated use in both food and industrial biotechnology fermentation processes. To reach mass commercialization, cheaper and more sustainable feedstocks must become widely available. Additional innovation is needed to move beyond this paradigm and empower fermentation companies to leverage more diverse inputs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0006] Fermentation involves the use of microorganisms to produce an essentially unlimited variety of products, including food, medicine, energy, chemicals, and materials.

[0007] The microorganisms used for fermentation can be grown on a variety of nutritional sources, or feedstocks. In fact, the inventors have found that wasted water feedstocks from the food and beverage industry, like the water used to brew beer or boil chickpeas, make surprisingly ideal feedstocks. And using these feedstocks to power fermentation also diverts them from traditional wastewater treatment (WWT) facilities, which generate significant greenhouse gas emissions in the form of methane (CH4), carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and sulfur oxides (SOx) from aerobic digestion, anaerobic digestion, and landfill decomposition of the microbial biomass generated by WWT.

[0008] These waste feedstocks are available at no or low cost, in stark contrast to the fresh sugar feedstocks traditionally used for fermentation, which can account for up to half the cost of a fermentation process. The use of these waste feedstocks can lower carbon emissions and dramatically reduce the costs of fermentation processes, making the end products cheaper to produce. This is especially important because many fermentation processes are less carbon intensive and generate fewer negative externalities than traditional chemical, catalytic, petrochemical processes, or agricultural processes, but are not currently cost competitive.

[0009] The disclosure provides a method for fermenting a waste feedstock. The method may comprise steps of preparing a culture medium comprising a waste feedstock from a food or beverage process, inoculating the culture medium with cells to obtain a culture, and fermenting the culture to obtain a product.

[0010] The method may comprise a step of preparing a culture medium comprising a waste feedstock from a food or beverage process.

[0011] The term "waste feedstock" refers to a waste stream, side stream, or byproduct stream containing nutrients such as boron, calcium, carbon, chlorine, cobalt, copper, hydrogen, iodine, iron, manganese, magnesium, molybdenum, nickel, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, silicon, sodium, sulfur, and/or zinc. The nutrients may take the form of carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, and/or minerals, for instance.

[0012] The waste feedstock may be aqueous, i.e., may contain a significant amount of water. These sorts of feedstocks may be referred to herein as wastewater or wasted water or upcycled water or similar. In some embodiments, the waste feedstock may be concentrated or dehydrated to reduce water content and make the waste feedstock easier to transport or ship. This may be referred to, e.g., as a concentrate of an aqueous waste feedstock. In various embodiments, the waste feedstock is a concentrate. The concentrate may contain, for instance, less than 90 wt% water, less than 80 wt% water, less than 70 wt% water, less than 60 wt% water, less than 50 wt% water, less than 40 wt% water, less than 30 wt% water, less than 25 wt% water, less than 20 wt% water, less than 15 wt% water, less than 10 wt% water, less than 5 wt% water, or less than 1 wt% water. In various embodiments, the concentrate is a powder, i.e., a powdered concentrate of an aqueous waste feedstock. In various embodiments, the concentrate is provided in slurry, brick, block, pellet, or granule form. [0013] The waste feedstock is preferably generated by a food or beverage process selected from fruit processing, vegetable processing, legume processing, sugar processing, grain processing, corn processing, potato processing, wheat processing, plant protein processing, soy processing, nut processing, seed processing, milk processing, dairy processing, brewing, distilling, fermenting, milling, baking, oil pressing, juicing, wine making, beverage making, cheese making, soup making, coffee making, chocolate making, and other types of commercial cooking. Typically, the waste feedstock is derived from a wastewater stream that would be discharged to a wastewater or water treatment facility or to the environment, such that the waste nutrients in the wastewater stream would not otherwise be recovered in a food process or valorized in a food product.

[0014] The culture medium may comprise the fermentation feedstock in a concentration ranging from 1 to 100% (v/v). In various embodiments, the culture medium comprises the fermentation feedstock in a concentration of at least 1% (v/v), (e.g., at least 5% (v/v), at least 10% (v/v), at least 25% (v/v), at least 50% (v/v), at least 75% v/v, at least 90% (v/v), at least 95% (v/v), or about 100% (v/v)). If the fermentation feedstock is delivered in a concentrated or dehydrated form, the culture medium may comprise the waste feedstock in a comparatively lower volumetric concentration, e.g., in a concentration of at least 0.01% (v/v), (e.g., at least 0.1% (v/v), at least 1% (v/v), at least 2% (v/v), at least 3% (v/v), at least 4% (v/v), or at least 5% (v/v), at least 6% (v/v), at least 7% (v/v), at least 8% (v/v), at least 9% (v/v), at least 10% (v/v), at least 20% (v/v), at least 30% (v/v), or at least 40% (v/v)).

[0015] In various embodiments, the culture medium comprises soluble sugars in an amount ranging from about 0.1 g/L to about 50 g/L. For instance, the culture medium comprises soluble sugars in an amount at least 0.1 g/L, (e.g., at least 0.5 g/L, at least 1 g/L, at least 2 g/L, at least 5 g/L, at least 10 g/L, at least 20 g/L, at least 30 g/L, at least 40 g/L, or at least 50 g/L). In various embodiments, the culture medium comprises soluble sugars in an amount of less than 0.1 g/L, (e.g., less than 1 g/L, less than 2 g/L, less than 5 g/L, less than 10 g/L, less than 20 g/L, less than 30 g/L, less than 40 g/L, or less than 50 g/L).

[0016] Similarly, in various embodiments, the waste feedstock comprises soluble sugars ranging from about 1 g/L to about 1,000 g/L. For instance, in various embodiments, the waste feedstock comprises soluble sugars of at least 1 g/L, (e.g., at least 5 g/L, at least 10 g/L, at least 50 g/L, at least 100 g/L, at least 200 g/L, at least 300 g/L, at least 400 g/L, at least 500 g/L, at least 600 g/L, at least 700 g/L, at least 800 g/L, or at least 900 g/L). In various embodiments, the fermentation feedstock comprises at least 100 g/L of soluble sugars derived from the wastewater stream.

[0017] The soluble sugars may comprise one or more of arabinose, fructose, galactose, glucose, lactose, mannose, sucrose, trehalose, and xylose. More broadly, the culture medium may contain a carbon source comprising one or more of acetic acid, amylose, amylopectin, arabinose, ethanol, fructose, galactose, glucose, glycerol, glycogen, lactic acid, lactose, mannose, starch, sucrose, trehalose, and xylose.

[0018] In various embodiments, the waste feedstock is the sole source of carbon in the culture medium. However, in some embodiments, the culture medium is supplemented with other sources of carbon. In various embodiments, the waste feedstock provides at least 10%, at least 20%, at least 25%, at least 30%, at least 40%, at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, or at least 90% of the carbon required by the culture.

[0019] In various embodiments, the waste feedstock is the sole source of nitrogen in the culture medium. However, in some embodiments, the culture medium is supplemented with other sources of nitrogen. In various embodiments, the waste feedstock provides at least 10%, at least 20%, at least 25%, at least 30%, at least 40%, at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, or at least 90% of the nitrogen required by the culture.

[0020] In various embodiments, the waste feedstock is a blend of two or more waste feedstocks, e.g., a fermentation feedstock high in carbon and a fermentation feedstock high in nitrogen.

[0021] Some embodiments may exclude certain waste feedstocks. In various embodiments, the waste feedstock does not contain plant protein. In various embodiments, the waste feedstock does not contain pea protein or byproducts from pea protein processing. In various embodiments, the waste feedstock does not contain vinasse. In various embodiments, the waste feedstock does not contain thin stillage from ethanol production. In various embodiments, the wastewater is not derived from a corn dry mill process.

[0022] The wastewater is typically safe for human consumption and does not contain, e.g., detergents, metal shavings, or pathogens. When products are not intended for human consumption though, like materials or fuels, it may not be necessary for the feedstock to be safe for human consumption. For the purposes of the present application, the terms "wastewater" and "waste feedstock" exclude waste streams containing sewage, sludge, slaughterhouse waste, household waste, or manure.

[0023] The culture medium may contain certain additives or nutrient supplements, optionally provided by the fermentation feedstock, to make it more suitable for fermentation. The nutrient supplement may be a nitrogen-containing compound provided in the range of 0.5 g/ L to 10 g/L. For example, the nitrogen-containing compound can be provided in an amount of 0.5 g/L, 1 g/L, 2 g/L, 3 g/L, 4 g/L, 5 g/L, or 10 g/L, inclusive. Exemplary nitrogen-containing compounds include, but are not limited to, ammonium hydroxide, ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulfate, ammonium chloride, urea, yeast extract, peptone, or a mixture of nitrogen-containing compounds. The nutrient supplement may be a phosphate-containing compound in the range of 0.1 g/L to 5 g/L. For example, the phosphate-containing compound can be provided in an amount of 0.1 g/L, 0.2 g/L, 0.3 g/L, 0.4 g/L, 0.5 g/L, 1 g/L, 2 g/L, 3 g/L, 4 g/L, or 5 g/L, inclusive. The phosphate-containing compound can be potassium phosphate, sodium phosphate, phosphoric acid, or a mixture of phosphate-containing compounds.

[0024] The waste feedstock may be delivered by any suitable mechanism. In various embodiments, the waste feedstock is delivered by pipe. In various embodiments, the waste feedstock is delivered by truck. In various embodiments, the waste feedstock is delivered in the form of a concentrate or a powder.

[0025] The method may comprise a step of inoculating the culture medium with cells to obtain a culture.

[0026] The cells may be any cells suitable for use in fermentation. In various embodiments, the cells are fungi, bacteria, archaea, or algae. For instance, the cells may be one or more of

Agrocybe brasiliensis, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus oryzae, Bacillus subtilis, Clostridium tyrobutyricum, Corneybacterium glutamicum, Escherichia coll, Flammulina velutipes, Fusarium strain flavolapis, Fusarium venenatum, Ganodermas spp., Kluyveromyces lactis, Komagataella pastoris (formerly Pichia pastoris), Komagataella phaffii (formerly Pichia pastoris), Neurospora crassa, Pleurotus ostreatus, Pseudomonas spp., Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Saccharomyces cerevisiae boulardii, Trametes spp., and Trichoderma reesei. In various embodiments, the cells are mammalian cells such as bovine cells, porcine cells, fish cells, poultry cells, or mollusk cells. In various embodiments, the cells are genetically modified, for instance, to improve growth, yield, or stability or to produce a product not natively produced by the cell. In various embodiments, the cells are not genetically modified.

[0027] The method may comprise a step of fermenting the culture to obtain a product, such as food, feed, nutrition, enzymes, amino acids, proteins, material, chemical, fuel, or therapeutics. The fermentation may be biomass fermentation, metabolic fermentation, or precision fermentation.

[0028] In various embodiments the fermenting is biomass fermentation, wherein at least one of the products of the fermentation is cellular biomass or extracts from or derivatives of cellular biomass. The biomass fermentation may produce one or more of fungi, bacteria, archaea, algae, plant, or animal cells. In various embodiments, the biomass fermentation produces bacterial biomass. In various embodiments, the biomass fermentation produces yeast such as S. cerevisiae used for brewer's yeast, wine yeasts, and yeast extract. In various embodiments, the biomass fermentation produces probiotic bacteria or yeasts. In various embodiments, the biomass fermentation produces fungal mycelium such as C. tyrobutyricum, Fusarium strain flavolapis, F. venenatum, or N. crassa for use in human or animal food, such as alternative meat products or protein supplements like protein powders. In various embodiments, the biomass fermentation produces fungal mycelium for biomaterials, such as clothing, textiles, alternative leather, furniture, or wall insulation. In various embodiments, the biomass fermentation produces animal or plant cells. For instance, the cells may be mammalian cells such as bovine cells, porcine cells, fish cells, poultry cells, or mollusk cells, optionally for end applications in alternative meat food products.

[0029] In various embodiments, the fermenting is metabolic fermentation, wherein at least one of the products of the fermentation is a metabolic product of a cell. For instance, the metabolic fermentation may produce one or more of ethanol, acetate, acetic acid, acetone, lactate, lactic acid, butyrate, butyric acid, or butanol. In various embodiments, the metabolic fermentation may use cells such as S. cerevisiae to produce biofuel such as ethanol or butanol. In various embodiments, the metabolic fermentation may use cells such as S. cerevisiae to produce flavor compounds or food additives. In various embodiments, the metabolic fermentation may produce amino acids such as lysine. In various embodiments, the metabolic fermentation may produce organic compounds such as citric acid.

[0030] In various embodiments, the fermenting is precision fermentation, where cells serve as miniature factories for the production of target products. The precision fermentation may produce one or more of a protein, an enzyme, a vitamin, a drug, an oil, a material, a solvent, a monomer, a polymer, a plastic, a pigment, a flavor, a fragrance, or a small molecule. For instance, the precision fermentation may produce proteins such as egg proteins, milk proteins, myoglobins, or leghemoglobins, therapeutics such as insulin, recombinant proteins, human milk oligosaccharides, genetic material such as plasmid DNA, cannabinoids, glycoproteins, or enzymes such as lactase or amylase. The precision fermentation may involve any suitable production cells, such as B. subtilis, E. coii, P. pastoris, S. cerevisiae, K. lactis, A. niger, or A. oryzae.

[0031] By consuming nutrients in the culture medium, the culture reduces the biochemical oxygen demand (also known as biological oxygen demand) (BOD) of the culture medium. BOD is the amount of dissolved oxygen needed (i.e., demanded) by aerobic biological organisms to break down organic material present in a water sample at certain temperature over a specific time period. The BOD value is most commonly expressed in milligrams of oxygen consumed per liter of sample during 5 days of incubation at 20 °C and is often used as a surrogate of the degree of organic pollution of water. BOD analysis is similar in function to chemical oxygen demand (COD) analysis, in that both measure the amount of organic compounds in water. However, COD analysis is less specific, since it measures everything that can be chemically oxidized, rather than just levels of biologically oxidized organic matter.

[0032] By consuming nutrients in the culture medium, the culture reduces the biochemical oxygen demand (also known as biological oxygen demand) (BOD) of the culture medium. BOD is a measure of the amount of dissolved oxygen required by aerobic microorganisms to break down organic matter in a water sample. BOD is a commonly used indicator of the organic pollution of water and wastewater but can also be used as a proxy for the overall level of organic content in water. It is usually expressed in milligrams of oxygen per liter (mg/L) of water and is determined by measuring the amount of dissolved oxygen consumed by microorganisms over a specific period of time, typically 5 days, under specific laboratory conditions. The higher the BOD value, the greater the amount of organic matter in the water.

[0033] In various embodiments, the waste feedstock has a BOD of about 1 mg/L to about 1,000,000 mg/L. For instance, the waste feedstock may have a BOD of at least 1 mg/L, at least 10 mg/L, at least 100 mg/L, at least 1,000 mg/L, at least 10,000 mg/L, at least 100,000 mg/L, or at least 200,000 mg/L, at least 300,000 mg/L, at least 400,000 mg/L, at least 500,000 mg/L, at least 600,000 mg/L, at least 700,000 mg/L, at least 800,000 mg/L, or at least 900,000 mg/L. In various embodiments, the waste feedstock may have a BOD of 1,000-10,000 mg/L, 10,000-100,000 mg/L, 100,000-300,000 mg/L, 100,000-500,000 mg/L, 100,000-800,000 mg/L, 300,000-800,000 mg/L, or 400,000-700,000 mg/L.

[0034] In various embodiments, the culture medium has a BOD of about 1 mg/L to about 1,000,000 mg/L. For instance, the culture medium may have a BOD of at least 1 mg/L, at least 10 mg/L, at least 100 mg/L, at least 1,000 mg/L, at least 10,000 mg/L, at least 100,000 mg/L, or at least 200,000 mg/L, at least 300,000 mg/L, at least 400,000 mg/L, at least 500,000 mg/L, at least 600,000 mg/L, at least 700,000 mg/L, at least 800,000 mg/L, or at least 900,000 mg/L. In various embodiments, the culture medium may have a BOD of 1,000-10,000 mg/L, 10,000-100,000 mg/L, 100,000-300,000 mg/L, 100,000-500,000 mg/L, 100,000-800,000 mg/L, 300,000-800,000 mg/L, or 400,000-700,000 mg/L.

[0035] In various embodiments, the culture reduces the BOD of the culture medium by at least 5%, at least 20%, at least 25%, at least 30%, at least 40%, at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, or at least 90%. Preferably the culture reduces the BOD of the culture medium by at least 25%.

[0036] In various embodiments, chemical oxygen demand (COD), a measure of the amount of oxygen required to chemically oxidize organic and inorganic matter in a water sample, may be used as a proxy for BOD. COD typically correlates with BOD, but its less specific, since it measures everything that can be chemically oxidized, rather than just levels of biologically oxidized organic matter. COD is determined by adding a strong oxidizing agent, such as potassium dichromate, to the water sample and heating it to a high temperature. The oxidizing agent reacts with the organic and inorganic compounds in the sample, and the amount of oxygen consumed in the reaction is measured. The higher the COD value, the greater the amount of organic and inorganic matter present in the water sample. COD is expressed in milligrams of oxygen consumed per liter of water (mg/L).

[0037] In various embodiments, the waste feedstock has a COD of about 1 mg/L to about 1,000,000 mg/L. For instance, the waste feedstock may have a COD of at least 1 mg/L, at least 10 mg/L, at least 100 mg/L, at least 1,000 mg/L, at least 10,000 mg/L, at least 100,000 mg/L, or at least 200,000 mg/L, at least 300,000 mg/L, at least 400,000 mg/L, at least 500,000 mg/L, at least 600,000 mg/L, at least 700,000 mg/L, at least 800,000 mg/L, or at least 900,000 mg/L. In various embodiments, the waste feedstock may have a COD of 1,000-10,000 mg/L, 10,000-100,000 mg/L, 100,000-300,000 mg/L, 100,000-500,000 mg/L, 100,000-800,000 mg/L, 300,000-800,000 mg/L, or 400,000-700,000 mg/L.

[0038] In various embodiments, the culture medium has a COD of about 1 mg/L to about 1,000,000 mg/L. For instance, the culture medium may have a COD of at least 1 mg/L, at least 10 mg/L, at least 100 mg/L, at least 1,000 mg/L, at least 10,000 mg/L, at least 100,000 mg/L, or at least 200,000 mg/L, at least 300,000 mg/L, at least 400,000 mg/L, at least 500,000 mg/L, at least 600,000 mg/L, at least 700,000 mg/L, at least 800,000 mg/L, or at least 900,000 mg/L. In various embodiments, the culture medium may have a COD of 1,000-10,000 mg/L, 10,000-100,000 mg/L, 100,000-300,000 mg/L, 100,000-500,000 mg/L, 100,000-800,000 mg/L, 300,000-800,000 mg/L, or 400,000-700,000 mg/L.

[0039] In various embodiments, the culture reduces the COD of the culture medium by at least 5%, at least 20%, at least 25%, at least 30%, at least 40%, at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, or at least 90%. Preferably the culture reduces the COD of the culture medium by at least 25%.

[0040] In various embodiments, the fermenting is submerged fermentation (also known as liquid fermentation), i.e., the fermentation of cells in a bioreactor or tank containing an aqueous culture medium. Submerged fermentation is highly scalable, since it occurs in a tank or bioreactor and is supportive of rapid growth rates, enabling short harvest cycles.

[0041] In various embodiments, the fermenting is solid state fermentation, in which the growth of microorganisms occurs on a solid medium in the presence of a low concentration of water rather than in a liquid medium in the presence of a high concentration of water, or in which the growth of microorganism occurs at an air-liquid interface. In solid state fermentation embodiments with a solid medium, the culture medium comprising the waste feedstock may be sprayed or otherwise distributed through the solid medium. [0042] The fermenting may be a batch process, a fed-batch process, or a continuous process. In various embodiments, the fermenting is a continuous process. The fermenting may involve control of certain fermentation parameters, such as agitation, aeration, dilution, temperature, pH adjustment, and supplementation.

[0043] Some embodiments may exclude certain types of fermentation. In various embodiments, the fermenting is not solid state fermentation, in which the growth of microorganisms occurs on a solid medium in the presence of a low concentration of water rather than in a liquid medium in the presence of a high concentration of water, or in which the growth of microorganism occurs at an airliquid interface. Methods for solid state and submerged fermentation are not typically interchangeable, given the differences in the physical structures of the systems for each type of fermentation.

[0044] The method may comprise a step of separating the product from the culture medium. The separating may be performed via any suitable method given the nature of the product.

Exemplary embodiments

[0045] 1. A method for fermenting a waste feedstock, comprising:

(a) Preparing a culture medium comprising a waste feedstock from a food or beverage process,

(b) Inoculating the culture medium with cells to obtain a culture, and

(c) Fermenting the culture to obtain a product.

[0046] 2. The method of embodiment 1, wherein the waste feedstock is aqueous.

[0047] 3. The method of embodiment 1 or embodiment 2, wherein the waste feedstock is a concentrate.

[0048] 4. The method of embodiment 3, wherein the concentrate contains less than 80 wt% water.

[0049] 5. The method of embodiment 3, wherein the concentrate contains less than 15 wt% water.

[0050] 6. The method of embodiment 3, wherein the concentrate is a powder.

[0051] 7. The method of any one of embodiments 1-6, wherein the waste feedstock provides at least 25% of the carbon required by the culture.

[0052] 8. The method of any one of embodiments 1-7, wherein the waste feedstock contains a carbon source comprising one or more of acetic acid, amylose, amylopectin, arabinose, ethanol, fructose, galactose, glucose, glycerol, glycogen, lactic acid, lactose, mannose, starch, sucrose, trehalose, and xylose. [0053] 9. The method of any one of embodiments 1-8, wherein the waste feedstock provides at least 25% of the nitrogen required by the culture.

[0054] 10. The method of any one of embodiments 1-9, wherein the food or beverage process is selected from fruit processing, vegetable processing, legume processing, sugar processing, grain processing, corn processing, potato processing, wheat processing, plant protein processing, soy processing, nut processing, seed processing, milk processing, dairy processing, brewing, distilling, fermenting, milling, baking, oil pressing, juicing, wine making, beverage making, cheese making, soup making, coffee making, chocolate making, and other commercial cooking.

[0055] 11. The method of any one of embodiments 1-10, wherein the cells are genetically modified.

[0056] 12. The method of any one of embodiments 1-10, wherein the cells are not genetically modified.

[0057] 13. The method of any one of embodiments 1-12, wherein the fermenting is biomass fermentation, metabolic fermentation, or precision fermentation.

[0058] 14. The method of embodiment 13, wherein the biomass fermentation produces one or more of fungi, bacteria, archaea, or algae.

[0059] 15. The method of embodiment 13, wherein the biomass fermentation produces animal or plant cells.

[0060] 16. The method of embodiment 13, wherein the metabolic fermentation produces one or more of ethanol, acetate, acetic acid, acetone, lactate, lactic acid, butyrate, butyric acid, or butanol.

[0061] 17. The method of embodiment 13, wherein the precision fermentation produces one or more of a protein, an enzyme, a vitamin, a drug, an oil, a material, a solvent, a monomer, a polymer, a plastic, a pigment, a flavor, a fragrance, or a small molecule.

[0062] 18. The method of any one of embodiments 1-17, wherein the fermenting is submerged fermentation.

[0063] 19. The method of any one of embodiments 1-17, wherein the fermenting is solid state fermentation.

[0064] While this specification contains many specific implementation details, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of any inventions or of what may be claimed, but rather as descriptions of features specific to particular implementations of particular inventions. Certain features described in this specification in the context of separate implementations can also be implemented in combination in a single implementation. Conversely, various features described in the context of a single implementation can also be implemented in multiple implementations separately or in any suitable subcombination. Moreover, although features may be described above as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, one or more features from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the combination, and the claimed combination may be directed to a subcombination or variation of a subcombination.

[0065] Similarly, while operations are depicted in the drawings and tables in a particular order, this should not be understood as requiring that such operations be performed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, or that all illustrated operations be performed, to achieve desirable results. In certain circumstances, multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous.

Moreover, the separation of various system components in the implementations described above should not be understood as requiring such separation in all implementations.

[0066] Thus, particular implementations of the invention have been described. Other implementations are within the scope of the following claims. In some cases, the actions recited in the claims can be performed in a different order and still achieve desirable results. In addition, the processes depicted in the accompanying figures do not necessarily require the particular order shown, or sequential order, to achieve desirable results. In certain implementations, multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous.

[0067] As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, the term "a member" is intended to mean a single member or a combination of members, "a material" is intended to mean one or more materials, or a combination thereof.

[0068] As used herein, the terms "about" and "approximately" generally mean plus or minus 10% of the stated value. For example, about 0.5 would include 0.45 and 0.55, about 10 would include 9 to 11, about 1000 would include 900 to 1100.

[0069] It should be noted that the term "exemplary" as used herein to describe various embodiments is intended to indicate that such embodiments are possible examples, representations, and/or illustrations of possible embodiments (and such term is not intended to connote that such embodiments are necessarily extraordinary or superlative examples).

[0070] The terms "coupled," "connected," and the like as used herein mean the joining of two members directly or indirectly to one another. Such joining may be stationary (e.g., permanent) or moveable (e.g., removable or releasable). Such joining may be achieved with the two members or the two members and any additional intermediate members being integrally formed as a single unitary body with one another or with the two members or the two members and any additional intermediate members being attached to one another.

[0071] It is important to note that the construction and arrangement of the various exemplary embodiments are illustrative only. Although only a few embodiments have been described in detail in this disclosure, those skilled in the art who review this disclosure will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors, orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter described herein. Other substitutions, modifications, changes and omissions may also be made in the design, operating conditions and arrangement of the various exemplary embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0072] Reference throughout this specification to "one embodiment," "an embodiment," or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. Appearances of the phrases "in one embodiment," "in an embodiment," and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment. Similarly, the use of the term "implementation" means an implementation having a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, however, absent an express correlation to indicate otherwise, an implementation may be associated with one or more embodiments.

[0073] While this specification contains many specific implementation details, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of any inventions or of what may be claimed, but rather as descriptions of features specific to particular implementations of particular inventions. Certain features described in this specification in the context of separate implementations can also be implemented in combination in a single implementation. Conversely, various features described in the context of a single implementation can also be implemented in multiple implementations separately or in any suitable subcombination. Moreover, although features may be described above as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, one or more features from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the combination, and the claimed combination may be directed to a subcombination or variation of a subcombination.

[0074] Similarly, while operations are depicted in the drawings and tables in a particular order, this should not be understood as requiring that such operations be performed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, or that all illustrated operations be performed, to achieve desirable results. In certain circumstances, multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous. Moreover, the separation of various system components in the implementations described above should not be understood as requiring such separation in all implementations.

[0075] Thus, particular implementations of the invention have been described. Other implementations are within the scope of the following claims. In some cases, the actions recited in the claims can be performed in a different order and still achieve desirable results. In addition, the processes depicted in the accompanying figures do not necessarily require the particular order shown, or sequential order, to achieve desirable results. In certain implementations, multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous.

Claims

1. A method for fermenting a waste feedstock, comprising:

(b) Inoculating the culture medium with cells to obtain a culture, and

(c) Fermenting the culture to obtain a product.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the waste feedstock is aqueous.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the waste feedstock is a concentrate.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the concentrate contains less than 80 wt% water.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the concentrate contains less than 15 wt% water.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the concentrate is a powder.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the waste feedstock provides at least 25% of the carbon required by the culture.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the waste feedstock contains a carbon source comprising one or more of acetic acid, amylose, amylopectin, arabinose, ethanol, fructose, galactose, glucose, glycerol, glycogen, lactic acid, lactose, mannose, starch, sucrose, trehalose, and xylose.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the waste feedstock provides at least 25% of the nitrogen required by the culture.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the food or beverage process is selected from fruit processing, vegetable processing, legume processing, sugar processing, grain processing, corn processing, potato processing, wheat processing, plant protein processing, soy processing, nut processing, seed processing, milk processing, dairy processing, brewing, distilling, fermenting, milling, baking, oil pressing, juicing, wine making, beverage making, cheese making, soup making, coffee making, chocolate making, and other commercial cooking. The method of claim 1, wherein the cells are genetically modified. The method of claim 1, wherein the cells are not genetically modified. The method of claim 1, wherein the fermenting is biomass fermentation, metabolic fermentation, or precision fermentation. The method of claim 13, wherein the biomass fermentation produces one or more of fungi, bacteria, archaea, or algae. The method of claim 13, wherein the biomass fermentation produces animal or plant cells. The method of claim 13, wherein the metabolic fermentation produces one or more of ethanol, acetate, acetic acid, acetone, lactate, lactic acid, butyrate, butyric acid, or butanol. The method of claim 13, wherein the precision fermentation produces one or more of a protein, an enzyme, a vitamin, a drug, an oil, a material, a solvent, a monomer, a polymer, a plastic, a pigment, a flavor, a fragrance, or a small molecule. The method of claim 1, wherein the fermenting is submerged fermentation. The method of claim 1, wherein the fermenting is solid state fermentation.