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Assessing lignocellulosic biomass as a source of emergency foods

Summary

After a major catastrophe that blocks sunlight and prevents crop growth, people could potentially survive by converting inedible plant material like leaves, grass, and wood into food. However, this biomass alone cannot provide all necessary nutrients—it has plenty of carbohydrates but lacks protein and fat. Combining biomass with edible insects and supplements could create a balanced diet to sustain families for extended periods.

Background

Global catastrophes such as nuclear war, supervolcano eruptions, or large asteroid strikes would generate atmospheric soot that reduces sunlight and prevents crop growth. Forest and grassland biomass covers over half of Earth’s land surface and represents a potential alternative nutritional resource. However, the convertibility and nutritional adequacy of inedible plant biomass for human consumption has not been rigorously analyzed.

Objective

To assess whether inedible plant biomass could meet the basic nutritional needs of a typical family under post-catastrophic conditions and to determine the quantities and types of biomass required to provide adequate macronutrients and micronutrients.

Results

Plant biomass contains sufficient carbohydrates to meet energy requirements with 6.7 kg per day at 30% efficiency, but is deficient in protein and fat while potentially exceeding safe limits for certain minerals. No single biomass type alone meets all nutritional requirements; 20.6 kg of biomass per day would be needed under conservative extraction conditions. Alternative sources such as edible insects and single-cell proteins would be necessary to provide balanced nutrition.

Conclusion

While sufficient plant biomass exists globally to feed humanity after a catastrophe, processing challenges and nutritional imbalances necessitate combining biomass-derived carbohydrates with alternative protein and fat sources such as insects and single-cell proteins, along with vitamin and mineral supplements, to maintain adequate nutrition.
  • Published in:Current Research in Food Science,
  • Study Type:Nutritional Analysis Study,
  • Source: PMC10520305, PMID: 37766892, DOI: 10.1016/j.crfs.2023.100586
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