Define the Single Cell Proteins (SCP)?

You may have heard of SCP. What is a single cell protein? Let's find out. The term SCP was coined by Prof. Caroll Wilson (MIT) in 1966. It means the proteins obtained from microbial sources, i.e. algae, fungi, bacteria, yeast etc. The proteins are isolated from microorganisms. Some of the advantages of selecting microorganisms as a source of protein are as follows:

a. High yield of proteins on dry weight basis.

b. Nutritional requirement is cost effective.

c. Less area is required for the installation of plant for the production of proteins as compared to the classical sources.

d. The plant may be designed in such a way that the processing can be done on a continuous basis instead of batch to batch basis.