The Farmer's Daughter USA

Hi, I'm Amanda! My family farms corn and soybeans in Southwest Michigan. I'm also a practicing attorney.

  • Home
  • Blog
  • Work with Me
    • Speaking
    • Giveaways
    • Social Media Consulting
    • Sponsored and Guest Posts
  • Gift Shop
    • Cart
    • Checkout
  • About Me
    • Media
    • Terms of Use

Enzymes: Small Size, Big Impact

April 18, 2018

Most of us take our body’s natural ability to digest food for granted. We put food into our mouth, feel it fill our stomachs, and then (usually) forget about it. But the biological processes involved in breaking down and digesting that food relies heavily on enzymes found in our saliva and stomach.

I had the opportunity to partner with Novozymes, a company that develops enzymes for a variety of industry uses, including food. I spoke with scientists and team members at Novozymes about the work they do. It was fascinating to learn about these naturally-occurring proteins and explore their potential uses.  

Enzymes are proteins that act as catalysts. That is, they act on other molecules and create chemical reactions that occur in cells. Virtually all the reactions happening inside the cells of your body are accomplished by enzymes!

Stated more simply, think of enzymes and the molecules they act on as a lock and key. The enzyme is the key, while the molecule it acts on is the lock. When the key connects to the lock, the lock responds by opening. But the key only fits into a lock with a matching shape and only causes the lock to do one thing – unlock! Likewise, when an enzyme connects with the right kind of molecule, it causes a specific reaction to occur to that molecule.

While digestion is the most familiar use of enzymes for most people, the scientists at Novozymes have developed other uses in food products. For people suffering from lactose-intolerance, enzymes are used to create lactose-free milk. Enzymes are being used in bread to make it fresher longer, and to make the dough easier to work with. Enzymes are being used in pet food to create the right nutrition and flavor profile. Enzymes are being used to speed the process of brewing our favorite beers, while still maintaining the right flavor.

Enzymes don’t just act on our food. Novozymes scientists are finding new ways to use enzymes in other industries to make them more sustainable and make our lives a little better. For example, enzymes can turn leftover corn stalks and cobs into eco-friendly fuel for our cars. Novozymes uses its enzymes in laundry detergent so that clothing can be effectively cleaned in cold water, which saves on energy costs. Enzymes also reduce the amount of chemicals needed to produce leather products.

In fact, in 2017 alone, use of the Novozymes’ technologies resulted in a reduction of CO2 emissions by more than 76 million metric tons. For perspective, that is equivalent to taking 32 million cars off the road!

In general, it takes between 2 and 4 years to develop a new enzyme technology and obtain the appropriate regulatory approval for commercial use. Of course, the proper testing and research is done to ensure the safety of all the enzymes being developed by the highly-trained Novozymes scientists, who come from a variety of backgrounds and scientific disciplines.

But we can be confident that the use of these enzymes is safe because they have such a predictable and specific mechanism to create change. Just like the lock and key, we know which molecules the enzymes will interact with, and what kind of reaction they will create.

Even though we don’t necessarily appreciate them, enzymes are all around–and in! –us. They are crucial for life to exist. Novozymes strives to find the very best enzymes available and employ them to solve food and industry problems in a more sustainable way. I’m so excited to see the future potential of this technology and its uses in food.

signature
Share this:
«
»

Filed Under: Features, Sponsored Tagged With: features, science, sponsored

Hi, I'm Amanda. My family farms corn and soybeans in Southwest Michigan. I'm an attorney and I'm passionate about agriculture!

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Subscribe via Email

Archives

Latest on Twitter

March 2, 2023
Farmers Daughter's Twitter avatar
Farmers Daughter
@farmdaughterusa

Right-to-Repair Challenges Continue t.co/sOTL8t7fPx

  • Reply
  • Retweet 3
  • Like 3
March 1, 2023
Farmers Daughter's Twitter avatar
Farmers Daughter
@farmdaughterusa

Soy & Soil Erosion t.co/gvugi5W3DK

  • Reply
  • Retweet 0
  • Like 2
February 27, 2023
Farmers Daughter's Twitter avatar
Farmers Daughter
@farmdaughterusa

LEGO Responds to My Inquiry…Again t.co/7kLnR7Zzy7

  • Reply
  • Retweet 1
  • Like 3

Latest on Facebook

The Farmer's Daughter

1 day ago

The Farmer's Daughter

Things I didn't miss while on vacation:❌ watching the news❌ hours scrolling on my phone❌ stress about creating new content❌ hours in front of the tv❌ worry about billable hours❌ always being connected❌ my to-do listIsn't it funny how a good vacation can change your perspective? Hoping to keep a few of these things with me until my next adventure.

... See MoreSee Less


Photo

View on Facebook

·
Share



Share on Facebook



Share on Twitter



Share on Linked In



Share by Email

The Farmer's Daughter

5 days ago

The Farmer's Daughter

Whoops! Looks like I missed #NationalAgricultureDay.We're on a family vacation in Florida this week. We hit SeaWorld, Universal Studios, Magic Kingdom, and Animal Kingdom. My highlight was spending some much-needed time with my favorite people. Headed home to Michigan soon. We're all hoping to bring back some warmer temperatures! 🤞 I hope you're having a good week! 💜

... See MoreSee Less


Photo

View on Facebook

·
Share



Share on Facebook



Share on Twitter



Share on Linked In



Share by Email

The Farmer's Daughter

2 weeks ago

The Farmer's Daughter

I almost feel bad for Kroger. Almost. My latest for AGDAILY

... See MoreSee Less

Kroger learns hard lesson about aligning with ag extremists | AGDAILY

www.agdaily.com

Mercy for Animals goes for the kill shot against Kroger after the grocer loosened its approach to selling only cage-free eggs.

View on Facebook

·
Share



Share on Facebook



Share on Twitter



Share on Linked In



Share by Email

The Farmer's Daughter

2 weeks ago

The Farmer's Daughter

I bet I'm not the only one with extra coffee this morning. Just remember: farmers don't like Daylight Savings Time either! 😉

... See MoreSee Less


Photo

View on Facebook

·
Share



Share on Facebook



Share on Twitter



Share on Linked In



Share by Email

The Farmer's Daughter

3 weeks ago

The Farmer's Daughter

I'm not sure I deserve to be on the same list as these other ladies, but I'm so flattered! Here's to all the ladies in agriculture today!

... See MoreSee Less

View on Facebook

·
Share



Share on Facebook



Share on Twitter



Share on Linked In



Share by Email

Latest on Instagram

thefarmersdaughterusa

I'm Amanda. My family farms corn and soybeans in Southwest Michigan. I'm an attorney by day, and "agvocate" at night.

Amanda Zaluckyj
Things I didn't miss while on vacation: ❌ watch Things I didn't miss while on vacation:

❌ watching the news
❌ hours scrolling on my phone
❌ stress about creating new content
❌ hours in front of the tv
❌ worry about billable hours
❌ always being connected
❌ my to-do list

Isn't it funny how a good vacation can change your perspective? Hoping to keep a few of these things with me until my next adventure.
Whoops! Looks like I missed #NationalAgricultureDa Whoops! Looks like I missed #NationalAgricultureDay.

We're on a family vacation in Florida this week. We hit SeaWorld, Universal Studios, Magic Kingdom, and Animal Kingdom. My highlight was spending some much-needed time with my favorite people. Headed home to Michigan soon. We're all hoping to bring back some warmer temperatures! 🤞

 I hope you're having a good week! 💜
I bet I'm not the only one with extra coffee on th I bet I'm not the only one with extra coffee on this Monday morning. Just remember: farmers don't like Daylight Savings Time either! 😉

#agriculture #usagriculture #farmers #usfarmers #farming #farmfamilies #sustainableag #sustainableagriculture #sustainable #sustainability #farmerscare #homegrown #localagriculture #knowyourfarmer #shoplocal #madeintheusa #madeintheus #americanagriculture
Do you know why farmers choose to grow bioengineer Do you know why farmers choose to grow bioengineered crops?

#agriculture #usagriculture #farmers #usfarmers #farming #farmfamilies #sustainableag #sustainableagriculture #sustainable #sustainability #farmerscare #homegrown #localagriculture #knowyourfarmer #shoplocal #madeintheusa #madeintheus #americanagriculture #be #bioengineered
Oh, man. These lyrics are hitting me in all the fe Oh, man. These lyrics are hitting me in all the feels right now.

"When they pave all the dirt roads and John Deeres are dinosaurs

When the last back forty gets sold and young boys don't open doors

When you can't hunt a white tail and keep what you reel in

Well, I hope I'm in Heaven by then

Oh, I don't wanna go today, but I don't wanna live

Down here at a place that thinks that that place don't exist

If there comes a day this country's somewhere country don't fit in

Hell, I hope I'm in Heaven by then."

"Heaven By Then," Brantley Gilbert & Blake Shelton

#countrymusic #country #heavenbythen #faith #rurallife #countrylife #farmlife #myhome myhome
Sunday morning snuggles. 🥰🥰 #Mischa #doggie Sunday morning snuggles. 🥰🥰

#Mischa #doggielove #dogsofinstagram #dogs #furmom #furbaby #sundayvibes #sundayfunday
U.S. farmers are constantly improving their craft U.S. farmers are constantly improving their craft and becoming better at their jobs. These types of statistics prove it.

#usagriculture #agriculture #soybeans #soy #soyproduction #soilhealth #sustainableag #sustainableagriculture #sustainablefarms #sustainablefarming #healthysoils
Did you know this about the organic label? If yo Did you know this about the organic label? 

If you want to buy certified organic products, that's totally your choice! But you should also know what you're buying and what it actually means. Often that reality is different than organic marketing.

#agriculture #usagriculture #farmers #usfarmers #farming #farmfamilies #sustainableag #sustainableagriculture #sustainable #sustainability #farmerscare #homegrown #localagriculture #knowyourfarmer #shoplocal #madeintheusa #madeintheus #americanagriculture #organic #organicfood #organiclabel
Now that's efficiency! #dairy #dairygood #milk # Now that's efficiency! 

#dairy #dairygood #milk #farms #sustainableag #agriculture #food #milkglass #dairycows #dairyfarm #dairyfarming #dairyindustry #drinkmilk #chocolatemilk #farmfact #farmsfacts
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2023 · Website Design By Jumping Jax Designs

Go to mobile version