Finnish scale-upEniferis set to build a world-first fungal protein factory after securing fullfundingfor the 33mn site.
The futuristic plant will convert food industry sidestreams into an ingredient called Pekilo.
Invented in the 1970s, Pekilo was the worlds first commercial mycoprotein a food source derived from natural fungus.
With a low carbon footprint and minimal land requirements, Pekilo promises a sustainable substitute for meat protein.
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Enifer will then heat-treat and harvest the biomass with centrifuges.
Finally, the fungus will be dried with hot air and milled into a powder.
The end products will be no more expensive than plant-based products as a whole, Ellila said.
Pekilo could cut the environmental damage and animal cruelty due to protein consumption.
Enifers new cash injection brings these prospects closer to reality.
It follows a 12mn grant from Business Finlandannounced in January.
The total package of 36mn exceeds the factorys construction costs.
Development of the facility is already underway.
On a brownfield site a30-minute drive from Helsinki,Enifer is building the plant within an existing industrial building.
Is mycoprotein the future of plant-based foods?
Ellila promises that the next wave will be different.
For the cynics among us, Ellila has a simple sales pitch:
Just try it!
We really believe that mycoprotein will be an important part of the next generation of plant-based.
One of the themes of this years TNW Conference is Venture: Show Me The Money.
Story byThomas Macaulay
Thomas is the managing editor of TNW.
He leads our coverage of European tech and oversees our talented team of writers.
Away from work, he e(show all)Thomas is the managing editor of TNW.
He leads our coverage of European tech and oversees our talented team of writers.
Away from work, he enjoys playing chess (badly) and the guitar (even worse).
