In a testament to Finland’s commitment to innovation, its food industry is making waves with groundbreaking projects spanning sustainable protein production, insect-based pet food, Tex-Mex delights, and state-of-the-art plant-based meat substitutes.
Solar Foods, renowned for producing Solein, which it claims is the world’s most sustainable protein, recently secured a spot in the Important Project of Common European Interest (IPCEI) by the European Commission. The project, focused on hydrogen value chain development, emphasizes research, innovation, and infrastructure construction. Solein, cultivated using renewable electricity and air-derived ingredients, is set to lead the way in hydrogen fermentation, with a new facility in Vantaa, Southern Finland.
Another Finnish company, P2X Solutions, is also part of this hydrogen initiative, showcasing Finland’s pivotal role in environmentally impactful projects. The IPCEI, supported by 13 member states, underscores hydrogen’s potential to diversify energy sources and reduce dependency on Russian gas.
Shifting the focus to sustainable pet food, Finnish companies Alvar Pet and Volare have collaborated to introduce insect-based dry foods and treats for dogs. Utilizing side streams from the food industry, Volare’s pilot production plant in Hyvinkää aims to automate insect-based protein production, significantly reducing environmental impact in the pet food industry. The move aligns with global efforts to replace resource-intensive ingredients, contributing to climate change, overfishing, and deforestation.
In the Tex-Mex arena, Paulig’s new 45 million-euro tortilla production plant in Belgium represents the company’s largest investment outside Finland. Rolf Ladau, CEO of Paulig, highlights the strategic importance of this investment, enabling the company to capitalize on the growing Tex-Mex market and double its sales in Europe.
MeEat, an Espoo-based plant-based meat producer, is set to introduce New-Meat, the latest product from Israel’s Redefine Meat, to Finland. Offering plant-based meat cuts and minced meat with a taste and texture indistinguishable from animal meat, MeEat aims to cater to the high-end culinary scene. With an extensive background in the meat industry, MeEat’s CEO, Mikko Karell, expresses admiration for Redefine Meat’s achievement in replicating the meat-eating experience without compromising on taste or texture.
These innovations underscore Finland’s pivotal role in reshaping the future of food, blending sustainability, technology, and culinary excellence.