The world's first commercial-scale factory for making nutrient-rich and versatile protein from air and sustainable energy has opened its doors in Finland.
The protein, called Solein (an abbreviated portmanteau of solar-protein), is the brainchild of Pasi Vainikka and bioprocesses scientist Juha-Pekka Pitkänen, and created by their company beside the Baltic Sea, called Solar Foods.
The duo is secretive of the exact microbial species and origin - not surprising, as there's likely to be ton of money to be made from this burgeoning industry of alternative food production. Be that as it may, following fermentation and drying, the result is a yellowish powder that's reported to have a "mild aroma" and "notes of umami that hint at nuttiness and creaminess." Because of this, it has broad potential as a high-protein dairy replacement.
For many of us, the rising cost of groceries or price of eggs may be our main gripes with access to food - but we're the lucky ones. Around the world, millions endure prolonged hunger and we are all aware of the global issue of food shortages. How are we going to get enough food for everyone as populations rise? Are we expected to just pull food out of thin air? Actually, the answer is "yes".
This way of growing food out of air was actually first employed in the 1970s by NASA, making edible nutrition grown from astronauts' oxygen supplies, but it was all but forgotten about until around 15 years ago.
Today, Solar Foods is one of a number of innovative food biotech startups vying to stake a claim in this revolutionary and forward-thinking new market. Air Protein in California is another. Their product, says the company, uses 524,000 times less land and 112,000 times less water per kilogram than current meat production methods. And it's quick to make.
With Solar Foods' maiden factory now open, and Air Protein likely to follow suit. And, given the speedy production process - "grows in hours," according to Air Protein - going from 'ferm to table' will take a fraction of the time that plant and animal agriculture requires. So, get ready, food out of thin air is going to be with us soon.