Category: Engineering biology

Alternative proteins – a bite for the environment

Have you noticed the appearance of a new section in supermarkets in the last few years? I am talking about the ‘protein’ shelves. Proteins are essential macronutrients that support growth, development and repair. Dietary recommendations in the UK suggest adults should consume at least 45 (female) and 55.5 (males) grams of protein per day. However, animal meat is the main source of protein in our diets and its production is one of the largest contributors to climate change. We need new sources of protein to keep up with demand and we need them to be sustainable, healthy and resilient.

Supermarkets shelves showing whey protein products.
Supermarkets shelves showing whey protein products. Image credit: Flickr, Sekihan.

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Not a drop in the ocean, households’ potential to reduce carbon emissions

Travelling by public transport, recycling our home waste, using re-fillable water bottles or taking a tote bag to the supermarket. We have all heard about the little changes we can do to reduce carbon emissions and protect the environment. However, the action with the biggest impact is related to food!

Project Drawdown has identified a series of practices and technologies with direct effect on emissions that are scientifically validated and economically viable.

A drop in the ocean?

Their analysis revealed that household activities could contribute to avoid dangerous climate change, defined as an increase in global temperature larger than 1.5°C. Individual actions have the potential to reduce the total emissions needed to avoid that temperature increase by 25-30%. Definitely not just a drop in the ocean! While large businesses and governments are responsible for most emissions (70-75%), our choices also play an important part.

How can we help?

Among the 20-high impact actions we find better home insulation, public transport and recycling. But above all, adopting a plant-rich diet and reducing food waste make up 12.4% of the 25-30% household potential for reductions. Adapting our diet and reducing the food we buy but don’t eat could really make a difference.

Top 20 high impact climate actions for households and individuals.
Top 20 high impact climate actions for households and individuals. Image credit: Project Drawdown.

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DNA, the blueprint and concrete of biological engineers

What concrete is to civil engineers, DNA is to biological engineers. At first glance, DNA might seem like any other material, a building block, like concrete. A material that, over time, humans learnt to refine, assemble, and optimize into products with specific functions. This analogy, brought to us by our guest blogger, MRes student Emile Durand, captures the essence of biological engineering’s approach. But to fully understand the potential of this topic, we must first learn what makes DNA different from other building blocks! 

DNA model, divided into blocks
DNA model as building blocks. Image credit: Study.com

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