Duckweed Protein Feed Composition for Amino Acid Balance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional animal feed compositions rely heavily on animal-derived proteins, which contribute to CO2 emissions and resource inefficiencies, and lack suitable plant-based alternatives that match the nutritional profile of animal proteins.

Innovation Solution

A plant-based animal feed composition utilizing duckweed proteins, supplemented with other protein sources like pillar fungi and in vitro meat, to achieve a high-quality protein content with a corrected Amino Acid Index similar to animal proteins, ensuring complete nutrient balance and adaptability to individual animal needs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If animal-derived proteins are used in animal feed compositions, then the nutritional quality and amino acid profile are improved, but CO2 emissions increase and resource efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenutritional qualityVSAvoidCO2 emissions

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the source parameter of protein from animal-derived to plant-derived (duckweed), while maintaining the nutritional quality parameters through careful selection and processing of plant proteins that provide comparable amino acid profiles

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a plant-based protein composition that copies the nutritional characteristics and amino acid profile of animal proteins, achieving similar functional outcomes without using animal sources

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Reliability

If animal byproducts are diverted to human food production, then food quality for humans is improved, but availability of animal-based protein sources for animal feed deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefood qualityVSAvoidavailability of protein sources

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses duckweed, a rapidly renewable plant resource that can be cultivated quickly and abundantly, replacing finite animal byproducts with a sustainable plant-based alternative that does not compete with human food supplies

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Reliability

If multiple protein sources are combined to improve amino acid profile, then nutritional completeness is improved, but feed composition complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveamino acid profileVSAvoidfeed composition

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines duckweed protein with complementary plant proteins (such as soy, pea, or grain proteins) to create a complete amino acid profile, merging multiple sources to achieve nutritional completeness similar to animal proteins

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite plant-based protein formulation that integrates multiple plant protein sources with complementary amino acid profiles, achieving the nutritional equivalence of animal proteins through material composition

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentUS20230172231A1Animal feed composition

Publication Date: 2023.06.08 YOUNIKAT GMBH

AI summary

An animal feed composition includes: 5 to 60 weight % protein relative to the dry weight of the composition, which comprises protein obtained from the family of the duckweeds (Lemnaceae), 0.5 to 65 weight % carbohydrates relative to the dry weight of the composition; and 0.001 to 5 weight % fiber relative to the dry weight of the composition.