Air, the new appetite suppressant
The Finnish company Solar Foods uses CO2 to produce food instead of releasing it into the atmosphere. Could this be the answer to climate change and the food crisis?
Jesus turns water into wine, an act made all the more impressive by the fact that he receives no help. Still, it pales in comparison to the creation of Finnish foodtech start-up Solar Foods, which turns air into food.
Named Solein, this product looks like wheat flour and would even taste like it. Its production does not depend on traditional agriculture, but requires CO2, hydrogen, nitrogen, water, bacteria and renewable electricity. It is produced using a fermentation process similar to that used for beer and wine. Instead of generating carbon dioxide during production, this is recovered from the atmosphere. And there's more than enough of it, you'll agree.
Production that conserves resources
According to the manufacturer, Solein is 100 times more climate-friendly than all other animal and vegetable alternatives that consume a lot of water, land and greenhouse gas emissions. In addition to its positive CO2 balance, this product also stands out for its low water consumption. For example, 15,500 litres of water are needed to produce 1 kilo of beef, 2,500 litres for 1 kilo of soya and just 10 litres for 1 kilo of Solein. This new food could alleviate the problems associated with our intensive farming. Indeed, the production of Solein, for which no precious resources are consumed, requires virtually no floor space.
This powder - made up of more than 50% protein and almost 25% carbohydrates - has a fat content of between 5% and 10%. According to Solar Foods, it is used as a dietary supplement in yoghurts, shakes, bread or pasta. It can also be used as a source of protein in vegetable meat substitutes such as Beyond Meat. By the end of the year, Solar Foods aims to have Solein approved by the EU. The product should be on the market in 2021. And that way, we'll be able to say we're living in the zeitgeist.
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My life in a nutshell? On a quest to broaden my horizon. I love discovering and learning new skills and I see a chance to experience something new in everything – be it travelling, reading, cooking, movies or DIY.