In 2022, Solar Foods’ unique microbial protein Solein– made from CO2, air, and electrical power– gotten regulative approval from the Singapore Food Agency (SFA)
Less than a year later on the active ingredient formally went into the marketplace within the confectionery classification (the Solein Chocolate Gelatoand now Solar Foods is extending its reach into treats through a tie-up with Finnish FMCG business Fazer.
The limited-edition ‘Fazer Taste the Future, powered by Solein’ bar is offered at picked The Cocoa Trees confectionery shops in Singapore.
Solar Foods is leveraging the partnership to get ‘important client feedback’ on the component’s practicality in a brand-new item classification, discussed CEO Pasi Vainikka, while more broadly likewise getting a sense of customer approval of the unique component.
What is ‘protein made from air’?
Solar Foods was established in 2017 as a spinout from Finnish research study centre VTT. The business declares to make the world’s most sustainable protein, which is
totally decoupled from photosynthesis and farming production.
Solein is frequently referred to as being ‘made from air’. Digging much deeper into its production exposes a minimum of 3 active ingredients are utilized to make the unique protein: CO2, air, and electrical energy. More particularly, the protein is produced utilizing a bioprocess where microorganisms are fed with gases (co2, hydrogen and oxygen), and percentages of nutrients.
Vainikka has formerly compared the bioprocess to that utilized by wine makershowever with co2 and hydrogen changing sugar as the source of carbon and energy, respectively.
Aiming to its nutrition qualifications, Solein is thought about a total protein, implying it consists of all 9 important amino acids. The component is comprised of 65-70% protein, 5-8% fat, 10-15% dietary fibers and 3-5% mineral nutrients. The macronutrient structure of Solein cells is really comparable to that of dried soy or algae, with micronutrients consisting of iron and B vitamins.
Solar Foods declares Solein can be utilized to change existing proteins in drinks, noodles and pasta, breads and spreads, and alternative dairy. This latter classification was evaluated through a collaboration in between Solar Foods and The Lo & & Behold Group-owned Ficoan Italian seaside dining establishment in Singapore, which saw the advancement of Solein Chocolate Gelato in 2023. Solein, together with veggie oils, changed dairy in the ice cream item.
What is a ‘Taste the Future’ bar?
And as is the focus of the Solar Foods and Fazer tie-up, Solein can likewise be utilized to improve protein material in the snacking classification.
The 44g Taste the Future bars were handmade in Vantaa, Finland, and exported to Finland. Each bar is made with 2% Solein protein, along with a minimum of 70% dark chocolate solids, dried strawberries, hazelnut and Nordic oat puffs. Including simply 15g Solein per 100g does not formally make the chocolate treat bar ‘high protein’, it does make it high in iron– a micronutrient frequently doing not have in plant-based foods.
Being neutral in taste, Solein does not adversely affect the bar’s treat profile, indicating there is no requirement to mask its flavour. According to Fazer, the existence of Solein boosts the bar’s flavour. The very same opts for the bar’s texture, described Heli Anttila, VP, brand-new item advancement at Fazer Confectionery.
“Solein does not affect the texture of the sandwich shop. Solein remains in powder format, and the sandwich shop consists of [just] 2% Solein.”
Gathering customer feedback for broader launches
Solar Foods is not the only celebration looking for client feedback from the limited-edition launch. Fazer, too, intends to gather customer feedback in Singapore to establish the item even more, Anttila exposed. In Singapore the sandwich shop is not for sale, however readily available as a part of ‘open tastings’ along with part of a package deal – indicating that if customers purchase 2 Fazer Chocolate boxes, they will get a Taste the Future bar totally free.
Fazer is likewise thinking about marketing the sandwich shop in other locations, for instance in the EU. Before this can occur the component needs unique food approval from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). This procedure is continuous, we were informed. “We are awaiting this to occur at the end of 2025.”
In the meantime, Solar Foods continues to deal with its very first industrial production center, Factory 01 in Vantaa, Finland, which will take Solein to industrial scale. Factory 01 will start operations in H1 2024 and scale the business’s yearly production volume approximately 160 tonnes. Presuming a single meal would utilize 20g of Solein, this equates to 8 million Solein-powered meals.
Solar Foods likewise verified it is looking for pre-market authorisations in other locations around the world, with an EFSA unique food nod anticipated by the end of next year. “Our shared objective extends beyond this turning point, targeting a broader scale European launch in 2025-2026 with an entire series of item,” stated Solar Foods’ Vainikka.