10 votes

Finnish startup hopes solein, protein grown with CO2 and electricity, will cut environmental impact of farming

Posted by mycketforvirrad
Tags: finland, agriculture, farming, food processing, technology, proteins, solein, business, startups, solar foods, co2, electricity, environmental impact, author.jasper jolly, source.the guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2024/apr/19/finnish-startup-food-air-solar-power-solein

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Title
Eating light: Finnish startup begins making food 'from air and solar power'
Authors
Jasper Jolly
Published
Apr 19 2024
Word count
1226 words

6 comments

  1. [2]
    Akir
    Link
    The way the title describes the product makes it sound extremely worrying when it's actually much more mundane. It would be a lot nicer if they would be more direct about what it actually is. It...

    The way the title describes the product makes it sound extremely worrying when it's actually much more mundane. It would be a lot nicer if they would be more direct about what it actually is. It sounds like it's some kind of yeast, but they never actually classify it beyond "microbe".

    I'm not really sure how much luck they will have with this product. I feel like it will only see use in processed food products, and that's only going to happen if it's cheap. It's good that this has a lower environemental impact than vegetables, but that's already very low when you compare it to meat.

    7 votes
    1. Eji1700
      Link Parent
      Seems to me like it's more likely to wind up as a replacement/component in livestock feed rather than for direct consumption, but that probably doesn't get the investment dollars. That's assuming...

      Seems to me like it's more likely to wind up as a replacement/component in livestock feed rather than for direct consumption, but that probably doesn't get the investment dollars.

      That's assuming it's got any marketable purpose at all. So many of these things get vastly overblown.

      8 votes
  2. [4]
    Grayscail
    Link
    I suspect that if this ever takes off it will be in the form of chicken nuggets and sausage, or other things that consist of pulverized mush of other stuff. I'd expect the perceived ickyness would...

    I suspect that if this ever takes off it will be in the form of chicken nuggets and sausage, or other things that consist of pulverized mush of other stuff. I'd expect the perceived ickyness would prevent it from becoming popular as a standalone consumer facing product.

    Though personally I have always wondered if hydrolyzed spirulina would be any good.

    3 votes
    1. [3]
      skybrian
      Link Parent
      It seems like the Beyond Meat / Impossible Burger story shows that it’s possible to create a fad for a novelty food, even if it’s pretty high priced. Also, Soylent is still around, though they got...

      It seems like the Beyond Meat / Impossible Burger story shows that it’s possible to create a fad for a novelty food, even if it’s pretty high priced. Also, Soylent is still around, though they got bought out. (I still drink it sometimes.)

      Whether people stick with it is another story. Getting the price down seems important - if it’s cheap then the food industry will be more interested. Maybe they can put it in foods marketed as vegan?

      2 votes
      1. [2]
        Grayscail
        Link Parent
        I dont really follow meat substitute news, but the article seems to indicate that things aren't going amazingly for Beyond Meat and similar brands.

        Vainikka says that is the key problem for cultured meat, or lab-grown meat. The market value of newly listed companies such as Beyond Meat soared during the coronavirus pandemic bubble, only to come crashing down as sales slumped. The opening of Solar Foods’ first factory will be crucial in persuading investors that the company will not suffer the same fate.

        I dont really follow meat substitute news, but the article seems to indicate that things aren't going amazingly for Beyond Meat and similar brands.

        1 vote
        1. skybrian
          Link Parent
          Yeah, it seems like that fad is over. My point is that they showed it possible to create a fad for artificial foods. Maybe someone else will do better?

          Yeah, it seems like that fad is over. My point is that they showed it possible to create a fad for artificial foods. Maybe someone else will do better?

          2 votes