Solar Food’s protein from carbon dioxide gets authorisation

The regulatory approval as a novel food, given by the Singapore Food Agency (SFA), allows for the sale of food products containing Solein in Singapore. Solar Foods called it a "huge step" for the marketing of Solein protein that is being produced by microorganisms that convert CO₂, O₂ and green hydrogen as well as a small amount of nutrients into amino acids for food applications.

According to Solar Foods Ltd, Solein is the first ever novel food disconnected from the limits of traditional agriculture such as acreage of biomass, which now is made in huge fermenters without any land use. This type of production method in theory has the potential to transform the sustainability, availability and transparency of proteins and where food can be produced.

According to sustainability modelling, the overall production process seems to be sustainable. However, real-life sustainability will show up when the process to make Solein has been scaled up. As the productioon process needs to be supplied with external hydrogen as an energy sources for the production strains, it remains to be seen how sustainable water electrolysis fueled by renerarative energy is in reality. Commercial production and sales are expected to begin in Vantaa, Finland, after completion and testing of an industrial-scale production site called Factory 1 in 2024.

The company said, Solar Foods plans to seek GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) status assessment for Solein soon in the United States, other applications for novel food authorisation have been filed earlier in other key markets such as the UK and the European Union.

The commercial plan is to replace existing proteins in a variety of foods by Solein, for example in alternative dairy and meat, different snacks and beverages, noodles and pasta, or breads and spreads.

Several microbial protein companies recently showcased the very diversified pipeline of alternative proteins at Industria Biotec in Berlin, to showcase the state-of-the-art of novel (bio)technologies. Vegan cheese maker Standing Ovation SA won the pitch contest at the new industrial biotech event.