Makanan dari Udara: Tren Investasi dan Publikasi Perusahaan Protein Alternatif (Air Protein, Solar Foods) sebagai Respons Krisis Pangan
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.36665/8sevft89Keywords:
gas fermentation, hydrogen-oxidizing bacteria, protein alternatif, ketahanan pangan, solar foods, air proteinAbstract
Ketahanan pangan global dihadapkan pada ancaman ganda: pertumbuhan populasi yang diproyeksikan mencapai 9,7 miliar jiwa pada 2050, serta perubahan iklim yang semakin sulit diprediksi menekan hasil panen gandum dan jagung sekaligus menurunkan kandungan protein biji-bijian akibat naiknya konsentrasi CO₂ atmosfer. Di tengah tekanan yang saling terkait ini, teknologi gas fermentation berbasis hydrogen-oxidizing bacteria (HOB) muncul sebagai jalur produksi protein non-fotosintetik yang memanfaatkan udara, air, dan listrik terbarukan, tanpa bergantung pada lahan subur. Penelitian ini menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif berbasis kajian literatur (desk research), mensintesis data sekunder dari laporan lembaga kredibel, dokumen regulasi, dan literatur ilmiah untuk mengkaji prinsip teknis, efisiensi ekologis, kelayakan finansial, serta peta regulasi teknologi gas fermentation, dengan Solar Foods dan Air Protein sebagai studi kasus. Hasil kajian menunjukkan bahwa kedua perusahaan telah mencapai tonggak signifikan dari sisi teknis dan regulasi termasuk persetujuan novel food, status GRAS, dan portofolio paten namun masih menghadapi hambatan penerimaan konsumen akibat neofobia pangan dan ketidaktahuan produk. Meskipun independensi teknologi ini terhadap lahan subur dan irigasi selaras secara konseptual dengan strategi diversifikasi pangan yang direkomendasikan berbagai kajian ketahanan pangan, kapasitas produksi komersial saat ini masih marjinal dibandingkan kebutuhan protein dunia, diperparah oleh penurunan tren investasi sektor fermentasi belakangan ini. Penelitian ini menyimpulkan bahwa gas fermentation berbasis HOB lebih tepat dipandang sebagai satu komponen yang menjanjikan dalam portofolio diversifikasi protein jangka menengah–panjang, bukan solusi tunggal maupun instan bagi krisis pangan global.
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