article · Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery
Jerusalem artichoke green biomass presents a viable alternative source of leaf protein concentrate. Evaluating seven distinct clones against an alfalfa control demonstrated that Jerusalem artichoke shoots yielded an average of 39 grams of leaf protein concentrate per kilogram of fresh biomass, compared to 32 grams per kilogram from alfalfa. The plant can generate up to 936 kilograms of protein per hectare annually under rainfed conditions without fertilisers. Crude protein content in the concentrate ranged between 24.2 and 31.4 percent, varying by clone and harvest timing. The resulting essential amino acid profile proved comparable to both alfalfa and soybean. Furthermore, the protein fraction contained 64 to 68 percent polyunsaturated fatty acids, predominantly linoleic and linolenic acids, alongside 0.5 percent arachidonic acid. While repeated shoot harvesting reduced tuber yields, remaining tubers remained adequate to naturally regenerate crops the following year.
Finding sustainable and resilient plant-based protein sources is vital for global food and feed security. Jerusalem artichoke grows with minimal inputs, producing high yields under natural rainfall without chemical fertilisers. Its leaves offer protein quality similar to soy, alongside beneficial fatty acids, providing an alternative agricultural crop that can naturally regenerate every year.
This research could interest agri-food processors, alternative protein manufacturers, and livestock feed producers seeking lower-input protein sources. The findings indicate an applied laboratory and field trial stage, demonstrating effective extraction methods, nutritional parity with soy, and annual crop persistence. Real-world commercialisation will require scaling biomass processing and evaluating the economics of reduced tuber outputs alongside leaf protein harvesting.
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Abstract The present study evaluates the green biomass of Jerusalem artichoke (JA) as an alternative green protein. A leaf protein concentrate (LPC) was prepared from leafy shoots using biotechnological methods. Seven clones were compared to assess the importance of the genetic basis of JA, and alfalfa served as the control. The LPC content of JA was an average 39 g kg −1 of fresh biomass, while that of alfalfa was 32 g kg −1 . The JA can produce up to 936 kg of protein ha −1 year −1 without fertilization under rainfed conditions. The crude protein content of the LPC varied from 24.2 to 31.4 m/m%, depending on clones and harvesting time, which was comparable to that of alfalfa LPC (~ 32.3%). The amino acid profile of the LPC of JA, particularly of the essential amino acids, was similar to alfalfa and soybean. In addition, our results confirmed that the polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) content varied between 64 and 68% in the LPC fraction, regardless of the clone that was used, with linoleic acid and linolenic acid being the predominant PUFAs. In addition, unlike alfalfa, the content of arachidonic acid was 0.5% in the JA LPC. The tuber yield was significantly reduced because of the repeated harvesting of the shoot parts; however, the tubers obtained were sufficient to regenerate the plantation in the subsequent year, thus ensuring the renewable ability and sustainability of the green biomass of JA.
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DOI: 10.1007/s13399-020-00696-z
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