Heightened demand for plant-based protein sources has led to the creation of many new and innovative products and Finland's Solar Foods makes a vegan protein powder using minerals, air and electricity. The company set out to create a product that could be made regardless of the weather, climate or agriculture of the future. The single-cell protein is made by electrolyzing water to create hydrogen, which is combined with carbon dioxide and minerals to feed the microbes that create protein.
Solar Foods plans to start commercial production of its sustainable nutrient-rich protein in 2020. As Solar Foods CEO Pasi Vainikka says, "Our goal is to develop the protein into a high-quality product whose environmental impact will be 10 to 100 times smaller than those of meat products or their substitutes currently in the market."
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Air-based Protein
- The trend towards using air, minerals, and renewable energy for protein production creates opportunities for sustainable and climate-independent food sources.
- Plant-based Protein
- The demand for sustainable and environmentally-friendly protein sources drives innovation in plant-based products like Solar Foods' air-based protein powder.
- Sustainable Nutrition
- Innovation in sustainable, climate-independent protein production has the potential to revolutionize the food industry and provide access to nutrient-rich food for more people.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Food and Beverage
- Companies in the food and beverage industry can leverage air-based protein production to create sustainable and climate-independent food sources.
- Renewable Energy
- The renewable energy industry can collaborate with protein producers like Solar Foods to create sustainable food sources that reduce the industry's carbon footprint.
- Agriculture
- New approaches to protein production using minerals, air and electricity can disrupt traditional agriculture and create opportunities for sustainable and resilient farming practices.
