Carbon cApture for microbial Protein synthesis in Burkina Faso (CAP-BFA)

Project summary

CAP-BFA project aims at contributing both to mitigate climate change and to enhance adaptive capacities of food (fodder) production in Burkina Faso. It will develop innovative technical solutions and build internationally and locally anchored research capacity to ensure rapidly and effectively reducing greenhouse gas emissions and sustainable protein supply for the Burkina people and agro-ecosystems. Through microbial electrosynthesis, we will capture & utilize CO2 for microbial protein production. Using an enzymatic approach, we will valorize agro-wastes into bioproducts and the resides could be a nitrogen source for microbial protein synthesis. In a partnership between South and Danish researchers and industries, we ensure that our developments align with the needs of Burkinabé. Finally, the environment and sustainability assessment will quantify the SDG and climate impacts of our proposed solutions. We have gathered a team that in combination has state-of-the-art knowledge on carbon capture & utilization, microbial electrosynthesis, enzymatic process, supply logistics, animal feed formulations, and sustainability assessment, with vast experience in food production in Burkina Faso, and importantly, it has the development potential to bring research on mitigating climate change and managing agro-wastes to a new level in Burkina Faso. This proposal, therefore, combines efforts across agriculture, environment, energy, and water sectors to create a new platform for local capacity building and future exchange of knowledge between Danish and Burkina researchers.
This project is aligned with “Denmark– Burkina Faso Strategic Framework 2021-2025” focusing on local community resilience and climate change adaptation. It will provide scientific support to several national policies in Burkina Faso such as Burkina Faso National Climate Change Adaptation Plan (NAP) through the valorization of agro-industrial wastes and the utilization of CO2 and CH4. The project also fits the strategy for Denmark’s development cooperation and humanitarian action: “The World 2030.
CAP-BFA project will aid in realizing SDGs including SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 8 (Decent work and economic growth), SDG 9 (Industry, innovation and infrastructure), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

Outputs

First year report
This project aims to develop a sustainable process to fix carbon dioxide into microbial protein using a novel microbial protein electrosynthesis cell. The project progresses based on six working packages (WP0-5), each with specific tasks to achieve project objectives. The project management and dissemination (WP0) achieved two milestones, including the kick-off meeting (on May 30, 2022) and the first-year seminar regarding microbial protein and microbial electrochemistry (on 17th Jan 2023). WP1, which focuses on carbon capture for MP synthesis, has five tasks, of which first two tasks were accomplished in the first year, leading to a successful reactor development, experimental analysis, and evaluation of intermediates during MP production from CO2. In WP2, which targets the enzymatic recovery of syrup from fruit processing waste, tasks 2.1 and 2.2 have started, leading to the procurement of the required materials and equipment. WP3, which focuses on the integration of WP1 and WP2, has started. WP4 and WP5 will begin in July 2023. The project is currently progressing as planned, and the outcomes of the first year demonstrate significant achievements toward the objectives of the project.