Chickens May Benefit from Biofuels

The long running debate over whether the production of biofuels from edible plants is a waste of food just became more nuanced, as a new study suggests that proteins retrieved from biofuel fermenters can be used to feed chickens.

A research team composed of scientists from Nottingham Trent University and AB Agri, the agricultural division of Associated British Foods, have found a way to separate the yeast protein concentrate from the fibrous cereal matter created in the biofuel development process.

The scientists went on to show that the yeast protein concentrate, sometimes referred to as YPC, is a cost-efficient substitute for soya-based or similarly high-value protein feeds currently used in the diets of chickens bred for meat production. Furthermore, the YPC can be easily digested by chickens, the researchers report in the journal Food and Energy Security.

"Bioethanol is already a 60-billion-liter per year global market but this project shows the fuel itself is only half the story -- immense value lies within other co-product streams too. As well as the proteins, the yeast content provides important vitamins and other micronutrients," said Emily Burton of Nottingham Trent University, who worked on the project with biofuels expert Pete Williams of AB Agri.

The pair were convinced that valuable material was being overlooked when cereals were fermented to make bioethanol.

Presently, some of the byproduct of biofuel production can be fed to cows, but if the industry were to ramp up and the output of biofuel increases, there would not be a large enough market for all the excess biofuel byproduct, as the cows can only ingest certain types of it.

Burton said their research helps address a frequent concern about biofuels.

"One concern with bioethanol is the perception it will compete with food crops for limited farmland. Our new work shows how the two can live side by side," he said, making reference to the 800 million chickens that are reared for meat in the UK each year and the 48 billion worldwide.