Overview
- Jiangnan University scientists edited Fusarium venenatum by deleting genes tied to chitin synthase and pyruvate decarboxylase to improve digestibility and nutrient efficiency.
- The resulting strain, FCPD, required 44% less sugar and produced protein 88% faster than the unedited fungus in laboratory tests.
- Life-cycle analyses across six countries projected up to about 60% lower greenhouse gas emissions than traditional Fusarium production regardless of local energy mix.
- Compared with chicken production in China, modeled results indicated 70% less land use and a 78% reduction in freshwater pollution risk for FCPD mycoprotein.
- The study highlights potential for lower-resource protein but notes that commercialization depends on scale-up performance, regulatory determinations, and consumer acceptance.