Quorn partners with UK university to drive protein sustainability and quality

12 Mar 2020 --- Research at Teesside University in the UK, is helping meat substitutes producer, Quorn Foods, to drive the sustainability and quality of its protein. The collaboration involves a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) with Quorn, to test different methods of making mycoprotein – the main ingredient in all Quorn products. The aim of the project is to lead to an even more sustainable production methodology and enhancements in product quality.

The KTP will use ground-breaking new methods of proteomics, mass spectrometry and chromatography to identify and quantify proteins during the fermentation process. Moreover, it will use biochemical data to identify targets for new strains with desirable characteristics.

The project team will have direct access to Teesside University’s £22.3 million (US$28 million) National Horizons Centre, a UK center of excellence for the biosciences based in Darlington. They will utilize specialist equipment for examining and testing different proteins to ensure they meet pre-approved food regulations.

Quorn is a meat substitute produced at a site in Billingham by fermenting a nutritious microorganism in the fungus family called Fusarium venenatum. This is, in turn, developed into more than 100 different Quorn products such as pieces, sausages and mince, which are sold primarily in Europe and the US, and available in 18 countries.

Dr. Gillian Taylor, Principal Lecturer and Operational Manager of the National Horizons Centre, will lead the academic team providing supervision for the KTP. “Biosciences is a sector which has been forecast to grow considerably over the next few years, providing more jobs and investment in the region,” she says.

Over the next two years, Dr. Nanda Ayu Puspita, Biochemistry expert, will project manage the KTP from Quorn’s new pilot plant in Billingham, England.

“This project allows me to share my knowledge and expertise in proteomics research and at the same time will help me to gain new experience in the industrial sector,” she adds. 

“The National Horizons Centre opened in December last year with a specific remit to develop the skills and knowledge that will be needed to provide the skills, knowledge and graduate talent to facilitate and enable this growth,” notes Dr. Rob Johnson, Science Manager, Quorn Foods. “Quorn is a fantastic example of a Tees Valley company which is at the forefront of the bioscience sector, using techniques to develop nutritious and sustainable foodstuffs, sold globally.”

KTPs are funded by United Kingdom Research and Innovation (UKRI) through Innovate UK with the support of co-funders, including the Scottish Funding Council, Welsh Government, Invest Northern Ireland, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS). 

Edited by Gaynor Selby