Events › On the Edge: Emerging Scholars: You can eat that? The future of food with single cell protein

On the Edge: Emerging Scholars is a speaker series featuring cutting edge research presented by emerging scholars and researchers from Edmonton's academic community. Presented in partnership with the University of Alberta's Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research.

Abstract:

For most of our history, humans were hunter gatherers. We ate plants, berries, mushrooms, and insects as we found them, and hunted game when it was available. However, since the advent of agriculture 12,000 years ago, we have become more selective about what we eat and much more skilled in obtaining it. Agriculture now takes up much of our usable land, and the demand is so high that we are destroying valuable ecosystems to keep up. But what if there was a better way to feed our growing, protein-hungry population? In this presentation, Haley Wolgien-Lowe introduces single cell protein as an alternative protein source that has great potential to transform our food systems. She discusses the history of single cell protein in our society, its production through fermentation of microorganisms, challenges and possibilities with the technology, and provides insights into how single cell protein can shape the future of food.

Presenter: Haley Wolgien-Lowe, hwolgien@ualberta.ca

Haley Wolgien-Lowe is an Alberta-based scientific researcher and communicator with a MSc in Bioresource Technology from the University of Alberta. With her background in biochemistry, microbiology, food science, and upcycling of bioresources, she has contributed to innovations in food, feed, and natural health products that use natural materials and improve environmental sustainability. A dynamic public speaker, Wolgien-Lowe regularly gives talks on her research, presentation skills, and overcoming anxiety in communication, and was a finalist in the 2024 Three Minute Thesis public speaking competition. She now seeks to bridge the gap between laboratory research and real-world impact through knowledge translation and public outreach to inspire, educate, and further the public good.

This is an online event hosted on Zoom. A link to the session will be emailed to registrants a few days beforehand.

Zoom, a third-party app, will be used for this virtual session. By joining, you acknowledge that EPL does not take responsibility for Zoom's privacy policies and practices.