Creating the Perfect Protein
By Jennifer Raiser
May 2024
A decade ago, Gabriel del Rio was studying the burgeoning industry of lab-grown meat, but sensed that something was amiss. “I wanted to know if there is any protein or mixture of proteins in nature that will nurture humans but not create unwanted side effects like obesity, high cholesterol, diabetes, kidney disease or cancer,” he says. “I was shocked to realize that nature had not optimized the ideal protein for the human body. That’s when I began to work on this problem.”
What Gabriel discovered changed the focus of his work and has the potential to change food production on our planet.
The Mexico City–based scientist and entrepreneur has been studying the role of proteins associated with the diseases of aging for the past 30 years. “Everybody thinks that proteins are optimized for human consumption and survival, because the amino acids from proteins are essential for our body to function. But we consume what is available to us, not necessarily what is best for us,” he explains.
“We all need protein to survive,” Gabriel continues, becoming increasingly animated. “But every human is different in how much protein they need based on availability, metabolism, exercise, age — a host of factors.”
Once Gabriel homed in on the dilemma, he was determined to create a protein that would not harm people or the planet. His quest resulted in DProtein, an odorless and tasteless powder that could revolutionize human survival on Earth and beyond. It also unlocked the opportunity to build a food production company with unbounded potential.
"We wanted to make a protein that can be produced around the world, in all kinds of conditions, in just a few days at a very accessible price."
“We have created a proprietary process to make a protein powder that can be mixed with food to give the powder flavor. It is made from plants, but doesn’t require us to harvest the plant, so it is regenerative,” Gabriel explains. “It uses 1,800 times less water to produce than a comparable amount of beef protein, and a few hundred times less water than a harvested grain.”
He lifts a glass jar and shakes the cream-colored flakes inside. “We wanted to make a protein that can be produced around the world, in all kinds of conditions, in just a few days at a very accessible price,” Gabriel says, continuing thoughtfully. “This planet is not sufficient for every human to grow all of our necessary proteins, many of which are expensive or scarce. DProtein makes this possible for the first time in human history.”
The DProtein Founder is most excited about his product’s potential to improve human health and quality of life. “Our health at the end of life is not good,” he explains. “In the last 20 years of life, we pay the price for our dietary choices by living with illnesses or succumbing to them. DProtein is a food that will not compromise the health of humans or the planet.
“We are not gods,” he adds. “This will not make us immortal. But we are trying to make something that allows us to live a healthier life as mortals.”