Day8 from Israel is researching protein extraction technology from agricultural waste products, particularly banana leaves, with the goal of creating an alternative protein source for the food industry.
The founder of Day8, CEO Daniel Rejzner, derived the idea from a simple piece of information: 42% of all crops in agriculture consist of leaves, and these leaves contain rubisco, which includes all essential amino acids for the human body.
Rubisco can be described as the most abundant and cheapest protein on Earth, serving as an excellent alternative to animal protein sources such as beef and eggs. Unlike many other plant proteins like soy, rubisco is non-allergenic, making it a safer choice for individuals with allergies.
Day8 founders Dana Marom and Daniel Rejzner. (Photo: globes.co.il).
Rubisco also has excellent gel and foam-forming properties, enhancing the texture and flavor of many food products. For instance, rubisco protein can be used to create gel in vegetarian sausages or foam in cappuccino coffee. After removing chlorophyll, rubisco is colorless and odorless, allowing for easy integration into various food products without altering their original flavors.
Day8 chooses banana leaves as the primary raw material for rubisco extraction due to their availability and ease of collection. The large-sized leaves have a high rubisco content, making the extraction process more efficient compared to other plant leaves.
Typically, banana leaves are discarded after harvesting, generating a significant amount of agricultural waste that could harm the environment if not managed properly. Furthermore, banana leaves are available year-round and do not require additional cultivation, reducing the pressure on land and water resources.
According to estimates from the company, millions of banana trees around the world are wasted each year after their fruit is harvested. Each ton of harvested bananas results in 500 kg of discarded leaves, with every 500 kg of leaves yielding about 10 kg of rubisco protein. Thus, the total global supply of banana leaves could generate an estimated value of approximately 7 billion USD annually, rather than being discarded as it is today.
However, extracting rubisco from banana leaves is not a straightforward process. First, the banana leaves must be collected and transported to the extraction area while they are still fresh to prevent rubisco from degrading or losing its activity. The banana leaves are then finely ground to break down plant cells and release intracellular compounds, including rubisco.
This process is typically carried out in a water environment to keep the enzymes active. Next, chlorophyll must be removed to return the product to a colorless, odorless form that can be incorporated into different food items.
Rejzner sought out Dana Marom, an expert with over 20 years of experience in food technology, to find a technically and economically effective extraction solution. As the Chief Technology Officer and co-founder of Day8, Marom has fundamentally addressed these processes.
Marom stated: “The biggest challenge is that the extraction process must not use any chemicals to meet food safety requirements. You see, using chemicals like ethanol makes it much easier to isolate rubisco from plant leaves. We want Day8’s products to be safe, meet the requirements of all food manufacturing companies, and be competitively priced compared to other protein sources like soy.”
Mr. Rejzner shared: “Currently, rubisco protein has not yet met the criteria for commercialization. We are accelerating the transition from laboratory to large-scale production, hoping to have the product available on the market within the next two years.
About 30 food companies have expressed interest and are waiting for Day8’s product, including one large group that has signed a memorandum of understanding to use the product and build the first factory to facilitate commercialization.”
Day8 has also begun seeking partners among banana farms worldwide. According to Mr. Rejzner, in Vietnam, bananas are a significant crop in agriculture, and exploiting the rubisco protein from banana leaves could provide an estimated potential value of 150 million USD per year.
Additionally, many other types of leaves such as sugarcane leaves, corn leaves, and even duckweed can also be utilized for protein extraction. This not only helps reduce waste but also provides additional income for farmers from agricultural by-products.
From an environmental perspective, Mr. Rejzner noted that approximately 4 million hectares of natural land, mostly forest land, are exploited each year for farming and grazing livestock. Deforestation is the leading cause of biodiversity loss, which is a concern he faced before venturing into this new area.
He expressed: “What we want to do at Day8 is to produce more food on existing arable land. If all biomass waste from agriculture is utilized for food production, the world could reduce deforestation by 10 years annually. I want to leave the current state of nature intact for future generations. This is what excites me most about starting this project.”
