Solar Foods has received a patent from the United States Patent and Trademark Office for the production process of the groundbreaking protein ingredient Solein®, utilizing the unique microorganism the company discovered in the Finnish wilderness. The patent gives Solar Foods an exclusive right to produce Solein to be used in food products with the patented gas fermentation organism and process. The production process utilizing the organism has already been patented in the company’s home market of Europe, as well as significant markets like Canada, Australia and China.
Solein originates in a microorganism the company has discovered in the rich biodiversity of Finland’s nature. With a unique nutritional profile combining the best of animal-based and plant-based proteins, the microorganism is especially well suitable for food production. Solein can be produced anywhere in the world independent of land use, weather, and climate conditions, which makes it one of the most sustainable proteins in the world. Solein can be produced throughout the year in a continuous process, offering the food industry a versatile protein ingredient with stable supply and quality without price volatility.
“The United States is our key market and one of the major protein-consuming markets in the world. After receiving the patent in the United States, producing the microbe we discovered in the Finnish wilderness almost a decade ago through gas fermentation is now patented in the most significant markets in the world. Our groundbreaking innovation is extremely well-suited to be used in food products: it is a safe, extremely nutritious, and functional protein ingredient across a variety of product categories. Solein offers a completely new harvest for humankind and a high-quality protein ingredient for the food industry – enabling sustainable food production”, says Juha-Pekka Pitkänen, Chief Scientific Officer of Solar Foods.
Solar Foods’ first commercial-scale production facility, Factory 01, started operations in 2024. The company is currently designing its next production facility, Factory 02, which will scale Solein’s production capacity from 160 tons to 6,400 tons annually. The investment decision for Factory 02 is expected to be made in 2026, and the first phase of the production facility is planned to be operational at the end of 2028. The company is also planning a network of Solein factories around the world.
Solar Foods has started the commercialization of Solein in the United States, focusing first on the Health & Performance nutrition market. Before United States, products made with Solein have already been available for consumers in Singapore. The company is expecting a regulatory approval for Solein in the EU and UK during 2026.
Photo: Solar Foods
