Solar Foods in brief
Solar Foods in brief
Solar Foods established in 2017 is a global leader in sustainable protein production, solving the global food production problem by offering the food industry a completely new alternative to existing animal and plant proteins.
Solar Foods produces the naturally occurring single-cell protein Solein®, a versatile protein ingredient that can replace traditional proteins in virtually any food product. Solein's production is independent of land use, weather, and climate conditions, which makes it one of the most sustainable proteins in the world. In the long run, Solein production will improve the global availability of protein and increase price and quality stability of food raw materials.
Solein®
Solein originates in a microorganism Solar Foods has discovered in the rich biodiversity of Finland’s nature. With a unique nutritional profile combining the best of animal-based and plant-based proteins, the microorganism is especially well suited for food production.
Solein can be used as a high-protein ingredient replacing animal- and plant-based proteins across product categories. It excels as an ingredient in the Health & Performance nutrition category, but it can also replace dairy and egg yolk in a variety of different foods and products. Extremely functional, Solein has a mild and neutral flavour profile.
Solein offers numerous strategic benefits for the food industry. Solein can be produced anywhere in the world, throughout the year, with minimal environmental impact. Solein’s production is not dependent on traditional agriculture, making it a secure supply of food capable of addressing the global supply gap of protein. Solein’s production can be scaled reliably with fermentation tanks, ensuring secure availability throughout the year with no price volatility. The continuous production process is carefully monitored, which guarantees consistent quality – and the food will never run out.
Sustainability
Food production, as we know it, is entirely dependent on land and weather conditions. Protein production is a massively disproportionate squanderer of the Earth’s resources: About one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions are caused by food production and related land use.
Over the next 30 years, protein consumption is predicted to increase by up to 40%. At the same time, the land area available for agriculture is declining, and in Europe, for example, 90% of the area suitable for agriculture is already in use.
Our existence is based on meeting these challenges.
Mission
Solar Foods is revolutionizing the global food system by disconnecting food production from land use and traditional agriculture. We bring to market a high-protein ingredient that serves as a nutritional alternative to traditional proteins while having only a fraction of the environmental impact.
Our mission is to have the most sustainable, globally leading technology platform to produce protein, and that Solein is the market-leading food ingredient in the Health & Performance nutrition category with more than 1bn consumers globally.
If less agricultural land is needed, land can be restored to its natural state, natural habitats can be restored, and soil carbon reserves raised. Enabling this scenario is the key impact of our solution.
Solein's use, features, nutritional content and production process
Using Solein add
Solein can be used as a high-protein ingredient in various foods and product categories.
1) Protein bars and snacks
2) Protein drinks
3) Protein powders and shakes
4) Dairy replacement
5) Egg yolk replacement
Solein's features add
Solein offers the food industry a completely new kind of protein ingredient. Extremely versatile and functional, Solein can replace traditional proteins like whey or egg yolk in virtually any food or product, bringing rich and velvety mouthfeel and texture.
Solein’s unique agglomeration drying method produces a flowable, non-dusty powder with standard bulk density and low compressibility. Solein has excellent emulsification properties, and it is well-suited for food industry operations and various food products.
Solein has a mild, slightly umami taste, and it is suitable for both savoury and sweet foods and products. Thanks to the natural flavour profile, Solein is suitable for a variety of flavour combinations.
The shelf life of Solein is approximately two years.
Solein's production process add
We produce Solein through hydrogen fermentation. The production process follows nature’s own playbook - we just do it more efficiently. We provide the microbe with its natural growth conditions, offering it the same raw materials that it would also need to grow in nature. The main raw materials in Solein’s production are carbon dioxide and hydrogen, which we produce using renewable electricity.
Solein can be produced anywhere in the world, throughout the year, independent of land-use, weather or climate conditions. Solein’s production has a low environmental impact and based on research, a small carbon footprint compared to other known protein sources. The production process is about ten times more efficient than plant photosynthesis.
Thanks to the unique, easily and efficiently scalable production method, Solein offers the food industry an ingredient with stable supply and quality with no price volatility.
Nutritionally unique add
Solein is a superior protein ingredient on nutrition, taste, functionality and sustainability. It is neither a plant nor an animal but a single-cell microbe originating in the Finnish nature – yet nutritionally, it combines the best characteristics of plant-based and animal-based proteins without their biggest disadvantages.
Solein is 80% protein, 6% fat, 10% dietary fibres, and 4% mineral nutrients. Solein is also a good source of micronutrients like iron (1,1g/kg) and vitamin B12 (50 µg/kg). It has a balanced amino acid profile with 43% essential amino acids and 20% BCAAs.
Solein contains mainly unsaturated fats and no cholesterol. It’s animal-free, dairy-free, lactose-free, gluten-free, soy-free and non-GMO with no major allergens, which makes it suitable for clean label and free from products.
