Chemical synthesis of food from CO2 for space missions and food resilience

Martínez, Juan B. García; Alvarado, Kyle A.; Christodoulou, Xenia; Denkenberger, David

doi:10.1016/j.jcou.2021.101726

Cited by 20 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…Microbial electrosynthesis could be used for the production of acetic acid, and potentially longer-chain, more nutritionally-rich fatty acids as the technology develops [ 27 ]. Similarly, food ingredients such as sugars and glycerol (glycerin) could be produced with non-biological processes from agriculture-independent sources, such as CO 2 [ 120 ] or hydrocarbons [ 113 ].…”

Section: Appendix A1 Mushroomsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nutrition in Abrupt Sunlight Reduction Scenarios: Envisioning Feasible Balanced Diets on Resilient Foods

Pham¹,

Martínez²,

Brynych³

et al. 2022

Nutrients

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Abrupt sunlight reduction scenarios (ASRS) following catastrophic events, such as a nuclear war, a large volcanic eruption or an asteroid strike, could prompt global agricultural collapse. There are low-cost foods that could be made available in an ASRS: resilient foods. Nutritionally adequate combinations of these resilient foods are investigated for different stages of a scenario with an effective response, based on existing technology. While macro- and micronutrient requirements were overall met, some—potentially chronic—deficiencies were identified (e.g., vitamins D, E and K). Resilient sources of micronutrients for mitigating these and other potential deficiencies are presented. The results of this analysis suggest that no life-threatening micronutrient deficiencies or excesses would necessarily be present given preparation to deploy resilient foods and an effective response. Careful preparedness and planning—such as stock management and resilient food production ramp-up—is indispensable for an effective response that not only allows for fulfilling people’s energy requirements, but also prevents severe malnutrition.

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Section: Appendix A1 Mushroomsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nutrition in Abrupt Sunlight Reduction Scenarios: Envisioning Feasible Balanced Diets on Resilient Foods

Pham¹,

Martínez²,

Brynych³

et al. 2022

Nutrients

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“…In the 150 Tg scenario, multiple industrial responses would likely develop in parallel at different paces and with varying degrees of success, as happened during the COVID-19 pandemic 60,61 , potentially including others not considered in this model such as foods from CO 2 (other SCPs 16 , carbohydrates 62 , electrosynthesized foods 17 , etc.) or synthetic fats 19 .…”

Section: Industrial Foodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Deployment of Resilient Foods Can Greatly Reduce Famine in an Abrupt Sunlight Reduction Scenario

Rivers

Hinge

Martínez

et al. 2022

Preprint

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In a nuclear war, volcanic eruption, asteroid or comet impact that causes an abrupt sunlight reduction scenario (ASRS), agricultural yields would plummet. Global society is currently unprepared for such an event, implying an urgent need for evaluation and prioritization of solutions. We show effective deployment of resilient food solutions appears sufficient to fulfill global energy and macronutrient food requirements, potentially saving billions from famine. A Monte Carlo analysis of resilient food outcomes, using a linear optimization model, shows a 95% probability of global food availability between 2,100 and 3,500 Kcals per capita per day in a nuclear winter scenario involving 150 Tg of soot in the stratosphere. Our analysis indicates nutritionally sufficient diets from resilient foods would be widely affordable, costing US$1.73 daily, though subsidization could be needed across Southern Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. Post-disaster conflict or insufficient international cooperation could increase costs and reduce output, hampering effective resilient food deployment.

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“…Utilizing the captured CO 2 to create a revenue stream may be a better alternative to CCS. CO 2 can be used directly for a variety of applications (drink carbonation, enhanced oil recovery) or used as a renewable feedstock to produce valuable products such as fuels, chemicals, and even potentially food (carbohydrates). − The main challenge of carbon capture and utilization (CCU) is the sheer magnitude of the task in both the physical capacity and cost. For example, it is estimated that ∼10 Gt of CO 2 must be removed from the air every year to prevent 2 °C global warming (by 2050), yet there are few products with a global market at the gigaton per year level.…”

Section: Environmental Impacts Of Industrial Agriculturementioning

confidence: 99%

“…In principle, starch and sugar could be produced artificially from CO 2 with greater efficiency and with much lower environmental impacts than industrial agriculture. − For example, Cai et al . estimated that the theoretical maximum solar-to-starch efficiency for artificial synthesis of starch from CO 2 (∼9%) is ∼1.5–2 times greater than the maximum theoretical efficiency of biogenic photosynthesis (∼4.6–6.0%).…”

Section: Artificial Carbohydrate Synthesis: Practical Aspectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Challenges and Opportunities in Converting CO₂ to Carbohydrates

2022

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The agriculture industry relies on biogenic photosynthesis to meet world demands for carbohydrates that are used for food and consumer products. However, this biogenic approach requires extensive land and water resources, produces significant greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and pollutes freshwater sources with excess nitrogen fertilizers. As the global population increases, the demand for carbohydrates will surpass what biogenic photosynthesis can supply and negative environmental impacts will be exacerbated. In principle, edible carbohydrates could be synthesized artificially from CO 2 . Compared to the current biogenic approach, artificial carbohydrate synthesis from CO 2 has significantly lower GHG emissions, reduced freshwater requirements, a smaller physical footprint, and no need for fertilizers or pesticides. Converting CO 2 to edible carbohydrates is a significant challenge, however, because of the high thermodynamic stability of CO 2 , the high complexity of carbohydrates, and the required scale of such a process. This Perspective examines these challenges and identifies opportunities for scientific innovation to enable commercially viable artificial carbohydrate synthesis from CO 2 at gigaton per year scales.

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Chemical synthesis of food from CO2 for space missions and food resilience

Cited by 20 publications

References 32 publications

Nutrition in Abrupt Sunlight Reduction Scenarios: Envisioning Feasible Balanced Diets on Resilient Foods

Nutrition in Abrupt Sunlight Reduction Scenarios: Envisioning Feasible Balanced Diets on Resilient Foods

Deployment of Resilient Foods Can Greatly Reduce Famine in an Abrupt Sunlight Reduction Scenario

Challenges and Opportunities in Converting CO₂ to Carbohydrates

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Chemical synthesis of food from CO2 for space missions and food resilience

Cited by 20 publications

References 32 publications

Nutrition in Abrupt Sunlight Reduction Scenarios: Envisioning Feasible Balanced Diets on Resilient Foods

Nutrition in Abrupt Sunlight Reduction Scenarios: Envisioning Feasible Balanced Diets on Resilient Foods

Deployment of Resilient Foods Can Greatly Reduce Famine in an Abrupt Sunlight Reduction Scenario

Challenges and Opportunities in Converting CO2 to Carbohydrates

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Product

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Challenges and Opportunities in Converting CO₂ to Carbohydrates