Bioactive peptides recovery from animal blood
In the meat processing sector, animal blood remains largely underused and is predominantly discarded as waste, posing environmental issues. Teagasc researchers have developed a scalable and sustainable bioprocess that converts these resources into high-value bioactive peptides. In addition to a sustainable waste valorisation solution for meat processors, the resulting bioactive peptides may benefit food, nutraceutical and cosmetics industries with downstream health and wellness benefits.
Photo credit: styxclick/istockphoto.com
Value propositions
- A multi-step integrated process, delivering cost-effective, high-yield recovery of bioactive peptides from animal blood.
- Enables selective isolation of functional peptides with enhanced functional properties. Produces clean, stable bioactive ingredients for incorporation into high-value sectors such as functional foods, dietary supplements, cosmetics, and nutraceuticals.
Development stage
- Successfully validated at laboratory scale, demonstrating technical feasibility and optimised process conditions.
- Advancing towards small-scale pilot development to confirm performance under operational conditions, with market-oriented trials planned.
Potential impact – engagement with industry
- By upcycling slaughterhouse blood waste into bioactive peptides from renewable sources, commercialisation of this IP can have significant economic, environmental and health-related impact.
- To find the optimal route to commercialisation, Teagasc wishes to engage with the meat sector and broader industries – including sectors such as functional food/beverage, cosmetics, and animal nutrition.
Research funding
Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine – 2023 Competitive Call (FIRM)
Project “Circular Bovine and Ovine Co-Products Valorisation-CirCoVal-Bovine R”
For further information or opportunity to discuss, please contact Miriam Walsh: miriam.walsh@teagasc.ie or engage@teagasc.ie (Ref: CircoVal)
For more opportunities to engage with Teagasc, click on the link below.