A Preliminary Study on the Technoeconomic Feasibility of Industrial-scale Microgreens Production

Carol E Akpan; Lealon L Martin; Kendall Lemons

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Conference: 2022 ASEE Gulf Southwest Annual Conference
Location: Prairie View, Texas
Publication Date: March 16, 2022
Start Date: March 16, 2022
End Date: March 18, 2022
Tagged Topic: Diversity
Page Count: 6
DOI: 10.18260/1-2--39156
Permanent URL: https://peer.asee.org/39156
Download Count: 562

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Carol E Akpan Prairie View A&M University

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Prairie View A&M University Research Experience for Undergraduates: A Preliminary Study on the Technoeconomic Feasibility of Industrial-scale Microgreens Production.
By: Carol E. Akpan, Kendall R. Lemons, and Lealon L. Martin

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Lealon L Martin

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Kendall Lemons

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Abstract

Research Experience for Undergraduates: A Preliminary Study on the Technoeconomic Feasibility of Industrial-scale Microgreens Production

Carol E. Akpan, Kendall R. Lemons, and Lealon L. Martin

Abstract

Because of their high nutritional value, short growth cycle, and diverse sensorial characteristics, microgreens have gained increasing attention as a potential candidate in the fight against food and nutritional insecurity. According to USDA Economic Research Report No. (ERR-270), an estimated 11.1 percent of U.S. households were food insecure at least some time during the year in 2018, meaning they lacked access to enough nutritious food for an active, healthy life for all household members. Suboptimal diet is one of the leading risk factors for poor health, both globally and in the US, and is responsible for up to 45% of all cardiometabolic disease (CMD) deaths. (Lim et al., 2010; Murray et al., 2013; Micha et al., 2017). In the U.S. in particular, suboptimal diets accounts for 18.2% of diet-related chronic disease health care costs in the US, and the cost estimate is staggering. (Jardim et al., 2019). Annual diet-related cardiometabolic disease costs alone through 2019 are estimated at $301/person, which translates to approximately $50.4 billion per year. (Jardim et al., 2019).

Data on the benefits of consuming high levels of phytonutrients in vegetables to prevent or ameliorate chronic disease are very persuasive. (Wagner, 2013). It is well established that there are many minor components in plant-derived foods – called phytonutrients – that elicit biologic responses in mammalian systems that are consistent with reducing risk factors of diet-related chronic diseases. (Beecher, 1999). For example, broccoli vegetables produce glucosinolates and isothiocyanates. These phytonutrients enzymatically degrade to form another beneficial compound, sulfurophane, during food digestive processes. Sulfurophane, is known to promote antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer, and other metabolic health functions in the human body.

In general, microgreens are edible crop plants that are only grown to the first true leaf stage and that feature short, repeatable cultivation cycles - around seven to ten days per harvest. Within these short cycles, microgreens are capable of producing glucosinolates and isothiocyanates at significantly higher levels than their mature vegetable counterparts. The unique characteristics of microgreen phytonutrients provide strong motivation to preserve their function-enhancing properties as they move from farm-to-table.

The purpose of this study is to assess the feasibility and viability of microgreen production on an industrial scale. In the course of assessment, two undergraduate student participants of a Research Experience for Undergraduates program hosted at Prairie View A&M University performed a preliminary technoeconomic analysis on the cultivation, harvest, and post-processing of broccoli microgreens in Texas. Results from the analysis will be presented and discussed in this talk.

References

Beecher, G. (1999). Phytonutrients' Role in Metabolism: Effects on Resistance to Degenerative Processes, Nutrition Reviews, Volume 57, Issue 9, September 1999, Pages 3–6.

Jardim, T., Mozaffarian D, Abrahams-Gessel S, Sy S, Lee Y, Liu J, et al. (2019). Cardiometabolic disease costs associated with suboptimal diet in the United States: A cost analysis based on a microsimulation model. PLoS Med 16(12): e1002981.

Lim, S.S., Vos T, Flaxman AD, Danaei G, Shibuya K, Adair-Rohani H, et al. (2012). A comparative risk assessment of burden of disease and injury attributable to 67 risk factors and risk factor clusters in 21 regions, 1990–2010: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2010. The Lancet. 2012;380(9859):2224–60.

Micha R, Peñalvo JL, Cudhea F, Imamura F, Rehm CD, Mozaffarian D. Association Between Dietary Factors and Mortality From Heart Disease, Stroke, and Type 2 Diabetes in the United States. JAMA. 2017;317(9):912–24.

Murray CJ, Atkinson C, Bhalla K, Birbeck G, Burstein R, Chou D, et al. (2013). The state of US health, 1990–2010: burden of diseases, injuries, and risk factors. JAMA. 2013;310(6):591–608.

Wagner, A. E., Terschluesen, A. M., & Rimbach, G. (2013). Health Promoting Effects of Brassica-Derived Phytochemicals: From Chemopreventive and Anti-Inflammatory Activities to Epigenetic Regulation. Oxid. Med. Cell. Longevity 2013, 1−12. 

Citation
Format

Akpan, C. E., & Martin, L. L., & Lemons, K. (2022, March), A Preliminary Study on the Technoeconomic Feasibility of Industrial-scale Microgreens Production Paper presented at 2022 ASEE Gulf Southwest Annual Conference, Prairie View, Texas. 10.18260/1-2--39156

TY - CPAPER
AB - Research Experience for Undergraduates: A Preliminary Study on the Technoeconomic Feasibility of Industrial-scale Microgreens Production

Carol E. Akpan, Kendall R. Lemons, and Lealon L. Martin

Abstract

Because of their high nutritional value, short growth cycle, and diverse sensorial characteristics, microgreens have gained increasing attention as a potential candidate in the fight against food and nutritional insecurity. According to USDA Economic Research Report No. (ERR-270), an estimated 11.1 percent of U.S. households were food insecure at least some time during the year in 2018, meaning they lacked access to enough nutritious food for an active, healthy life for all household members. Suboptimal diet is one of the leading risk factors for poor health, both globally and in the US, and is responsible for up to 45% of all cardiometabolic disease (CMD) deaths. (Lim et al., 2010; Murray et al., 2013; Micha et al., 2017). In the U.S. in particular, suboptimal diets accounts for 18.2% of diet-related chronic disease health care costs in the US, and the cost estimate is staggering. (Jardim et al., 2019). Annual diet-related cardiometabolic disease costs alone through 2019 are estimated at $301/person, which translates to approximately $50.4 billion per year. (Jardim et al., 2019).

Data on the benefits of consuming high levels of phytonutrients in vegetables to prevent or ameliorate chronic disease are very persuasive. (Wagner, 2013). It is well established that there are many minor components in plant-derived foods – called phytonutrients – that elicit biologic responses in mammalian systems that are consistent with reducing risk factors of diet-related chronic diseases. (Beecher, 1999). For example, broccoli vegetables produce glucosinolates and isothiocyanates. These phytonutrients enzymatically degrade to form another beneficial compound, sulfurophane, during food digestive processes. Sulfurophane, is known to promote antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer, and other metabolic health functions in the human body.

In general, microgreens are edible crop plants that are only grown to the first true leaf stage and that feature short, repeatable cultivation cycles - around seven to ten days per harvest. Within these short cycles, microgreens are capable of producing glucosinolates and isothiocyanates at significantly higher levels than their mature vegetable counterparts. The unique characteristics of microgreen phytonutrients provide strong motivation to preserve their function-enhancing properties as they move from farm-to-table.

The purpose of this study is to assess the feasibility and viability of microgreen production on an industrial scale. In the course of assessment, two undergraduate student participants of a Research Experience for Undergraduates program hosted at Prairie View A&amp;amp;M University performed a preliminary technoeconomic analysis on the cultivation, harvest, and post-processing of broccoli microgreens in Texas. Results from the analysis will be presented and discussed in this talk.

References

Beecher, G. (1999). Phytonutrients&#39; Role in Metabolism: Effects on Resistance to Degenerative Processes, Nutrition Reviews, Volume 57, Issue 9, September 1999, Pages 3–6.

Jardim, T., Mozaffarian D, Abrahams-Gessel S, Sy S, Lee Y, Liu J, et al. (2019). Cardiometabolic disease costs associated with suboptimal diet in the United States: A cost analysis based on a microsimulation model. PLoS Med 16(12): e1002981.

Lim, S.S., Vos T, Flaxman AD, Danaei G, Shibuya K, Adair-Rohani H, et al. (2012). A comparative risk assessment of burden of disease and injury attributable to 67 risk factors and risk factor clusters in 21 regions, 1990–2010: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2010. The Lancet. 2012;380(9859):2224–60.

Micha R, Peñalvo JL, Cudhea F, Imamura F, Rehm CD, Mozaffarian D. Association Between Dietary Factors and Mortality From Heart Disease, Stroke, and Type 2 Diabetes in the United States. JAMA. 2017;317(9):912–24.

Murray CJ, Atkinson C, Bhalla K, Birbeck G, Burstein R, Chou D, et al. (2013). The state of US health, 1990–2010: burden of diseases, injuries, and risk factors. JAMA. 2013;310(6):591–608.

Wagner, A. E., Terschluesen, A. M., &amp;amp; Rimbach, G. (2013). Health Promoting Effects of Brassica-Derived Phytochemicals: From Chemopreventive and Anti-Inflammatory Activities to Epigenetic Regulation. Oxid. Med. Cell. Longevity 2013, 1−12.
AU - Carol E Akpan
AU - Lealon L Martin
AU - Kendall Lemons
CY - Prairie View, Texas
DA - 2022/03/16
PB - ASEE Conferences
TI - A Preliminary Study on the Technoeconomic Feasibility of Industrial-scale Microgreens Production
UR - https://peer.asee.org/39156
DO - 10.18260/1-2--39156
ER -