Artificial Carbohydrates for Sustainable Food Production

What alternatives to conventional agriculture exist to produce carbohydrates for food and feed? Scientists at Heidelberg University performed model calculations for artificial sugar production with a view towards synthesis of other carbohydrates such as starch. They are looking into whether a part of the human calorie requirement could be met by resource-saving, synthetically produced foods. In their study, Ulrich Platt and Dr Florian Dinger of the Institute of Environmental Physics at Ruperto Carola take advantage of commercially available technologies to calculate energy use, land area, and costs in an attempt to raise awareness and research interest in these technological options. "Conventional agriculture is at an impasse. Its success notwithstanding, the environmental costs of land and water consumption, pesticides, and massive amounts of artificial fertilisers are severe," explains Prof. Platt. The researchers believe one way to circumvent this damage would be to manufacture artificial carbohydrates from atmospheric carbon dioxide and water, using renewable energies such as photovoltaics. "All the required technology is either commercially available, or in the case of sugar, at least developed on a lab scale.