From farm to fork, production of our food is responsible for 37% of global greenhouse gas emissions. In comparison, the transport sector generates 28%. At a time when the Paris Agreement calls for limiting global warming to +1.5°C, a Finnish research laboratory intends to reduce the carbon footprint of our menus.
They are introducing a sustainable protein powder that is developed with single-cell organisms, gases in the air and water. The whole “bioprocess” takes place in the laboratory. Scientists cultivate micro-organisms by feeding them carbon dioxide, hydrogen bubbles and some nutrients. The process has been compared to fermentation.
The stimulation process results in the release of proteins that the researchers can extract and then dehydrate to make a high-protein powder that the Finnish startup Solar Foods is calling Solein. Composed of up to 70% protein, no more than 8% is fat, while the proportion of fiber can represent up to 15%.
Related: Growthwell Foods CEO Manuel Bossi is serious about making food delicious and sustainable