Protein made from air could soon compete with soy

A new protein produced “from thin air” could compete with soy on price within the next ten years, predict the Finnish researchers who invented it.

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Finnish researchers have developed a new protein generated from air that could be used as a growth medium for plant- or lab-based meats or as an alternative to soy in animal feed (Solar Foods).
Finnish researchers have developed a new protein generated from air that could be used as a growth medium for plant- or lab-based meats or as an alternative to soy in animal feed (Solar Foods).

A new protein produced “from thin air” could compete with soy on price within the next ten years, predict the Finnish researchers who invented it.

The protein, a powder called Solein, could be used as a growth medium for lab-grown or plant-based meats or even replace soy protein used in animal feed. It could also be used as a replacement for palm oil in pies, ice cream, noodles and bread.

Solar Foods – the protein’s manufacturer – has already generated more than €5.5 million in funding. They predict that their costs will match those of soya prediction by the end of the decade.

“We bring to the market an entirely new kind of food that is both natural, and free from the burdens of agriculture and aquaculture,” according to their website.

How it’s made

To make Solein, water is split in a bioreactor using a process called electrolysis to create hydrogen molecules. These molecules, plus carbon dioxide from the air and minerals, are fed to soil bacteria, creating the protein powder.

The ingredients are fermented in large vats – a process similar to brewing beer that some have termed “ferming” – to produce a flavorless, odorless, dried liquid. The final product is a yellow flour-like powder composed of 20-25% carbs, 5-10% fat and 50% protein.

The product is promoted as a green alternative to current agricultural methods, especially if the electricity used is generated from solar and wind power.

“Our hope is to disconnect food production from agriculture,” Pasi Vainikka, CEO of Solar Foods, told the Huffington Post. “The environmental benefits are just a simple follow-up from that disconnection.”

Early stages

The technology for creating Solein is still in its early stages. A 2022 opening is planned for the company’s demonstrator plant and regulatory approval is needed before the product can be sold on the market.

Solar Foods plans to open a full-scale factory to produce their protein alternative by 2025.

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