A Finnish startup is preparing to commercialise Solein which is made in a lab from air, water and renewable electricity, for use in health foods and meat alternatives.
The neutral-flavoured yellow powder is 65 per cent protein and has been described as the most sustainable protein in the world. Not only is it independent of the weather, it uses far less land and water than traditional meat and milk production, and is also carbon negative, drawing CO2 from the atmosphere during the production process.
The startup, Solar Foods, has so far raised €24.8M to commercialise Solein, with €4.3M most recently pledged from Business Finland, which previously co-financed Solar Foods’ pilot phase. Other backers have included private investment companies and a Finnish baker and confectioner Fazer.