Recent developments in Finland’s food industry showcase a commitment to sustainable innovation, with Solar Foods and Nordic Umami securing substantial funding for groundbreaking projects
In December, Solar Foods announced a significant milestone, receiving a 34 million-euro grant from Business Finland. Recognized as the world’s largest public grant for cellular agriculture, this funding will propel Solar Foods into the engineering phase of its second facility as part of a 600-million-euro investment program. Pasi Vainikka, CEO of Solar Foods, praised Finland’s innovative spirit, emphasizing the nation’s readiness to support ventures that transcend traditional categories.
Solar Foods specializes in a revolutionary bioprocess, utilizing air, electricity, and fermentation to produce Solein, an edible protein. This process, 20 times more efficient than photosynthesis and 200 times more efficient than meat production, positions Solar Foods as a trailblazer in clean tech, food tech, and hydrogen technology.
In January, Nordic Umami secured 2.6 million euros to advance its technology for extracting umami from plant-based food by-products. Led by Nordic Foodtech VC and supported by an EU grant and Business Finland, the funding will drive the startup’s goal of becoming a global leader in vegan umami. Nordic Umami’s fermentation technology and plant-based umami products, including the innovative Meatless Umami Bouillon, underscore the rising demand for sustainable alternatives in the food industry.
These innovations, coupled with national promotion efforts, are poised to sustain the upward trajectory of Finnish food exports. With exports nearing 2.1 billion euros in 2022, representing a significant year-on-year increase, Finnish food products are gaining traction globally. Key export markets include the EU, China, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, South Korea, and the US.
Esa Wrang, head of Food from Finland at Business Finland, highlights the critical role of export success in strengthening the domestic market and enhancing resilience. Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Antti Kurvinen echoes this sentiment, emphasizing the economic importance of robust primary production for the entire food chain.
In a move addressing the shift towards healthier and sustainable diets, Norway’s Chew recently acquired Carrot Kitchen, a Finnish app developer dedicated to imparting healthy cooking skills to primary school-aged children. This acquisition aligns with both startups’ missions to inspire children to adopt healthier and more sustainable eating habits through gamification.
As Finland’s food industry, the fourth-largest in the country, continues to innovate and expand, these developments signal a promising future for sustainable and export-oriented growth.