Enifer, an Espoo-based biotech startup, secured over €12 million in grant funding from Business Finland and the European Union’s NextGenerationEU program to build a pioneering commercial-scale factory for its proprietary PEKILO® mycoprotein ingredient. The company specializes in producing sustainable protein through fungal fermentation technology, repurposing industrial by-products into a food-grade ingredient rich in protein and fiber. This funding will play a crucial role in constructing a €30 million factory and expanding production to 3 million kilograms yearly, significantly lowering carbon emissions compared to traditional proteins. Additionally, it will drive efforts to obtain regulatory approval for Enifer’s mycoprotein, positioning them as leaders in transforming sustainable protein production across various food industry applications.
Enifer, a spin-off from Finland’s VTT Technical Research Centre, was founded in 2020 by a team of five scientists aiming to advance and commercialize the PEKILO® technology initially utilized by the Finnish forest industry. This innovative technology facilitates the conversion of low-concentration side streams into high-protein PEKILO® mycoprotein through biotechnological processes. Already forging partnerships with prominent global entities such as Skretting (Nutreco’s global aquafeed division), Purina, and Valio, Enifer is dedicated to revolutionizing sustainable protein production for diverse sectors, showcasing its commitment to transformative collaborations in the feed and food industries on an international scale.
The commercial-scale factory will produce Enifer’s unique PEKILO® mycoprotein ingredients, which are made using fungal fermentation. The PEKILO® fermentation process has a long legacy – it was originally developed by Finnish forest industry engineers in the 1970s. As the world’s first commercial mycoprotein production process from 1975 to 1991, it converted forest industry by-products into sustainable feed protein for the domestic market.
Enifer has taken the original process many steps further and developed a food-grade ingredient based on the original PEKILO® technology. The product is a protein- and fiber-rich powder with a neutral taste and color that can be used in a similar way to plant-based proteins in the food industry today. The company is expecting to file for regulatory approval of its food-grade ingredient during the first half of 2024.
The new facility will have a production capacity of 3 million kilograms a year of sustainable, locally sourced protein – roughly equivalent to the protein content of meat from 30,000 cows but with at least 20 times lower carbon emissions and considerably lower water and land use. The factory is currently projected to cost €30M to build and is expected to be completed by the end of 2025, with production ramp-up occurring in 2026. Enifer is currently undertaking basic engineering of the facility together with design and engineering company AFRY. The facility will be built in the Uusimaa region, with an announcement on the location expected during Q1/2024.
“A key objective for the original developers of PEKILO® was to take this amazing source of protein to food applications. It is an absolute privilege for Enifer to be able to finally complete that mission, more than 50 years on,” says Simo Ellilä, CEO and Co-founder of Enifer. “This plant will be a critical stepping stone to scaling the production of PEKILO® as a truly universal protein source – which we aim to commercialize globally across different applications. Thanks to the unique history of PEKILO®, we are able to take this giant leap from our existing pilot directly to a commercial-scale facility. We are extremely grateful for the financial support approved by Business Finland and the European Union NextGenerationEU programme, which will enable us to take this huge step in the coming year.”
Enifer raised €11M series A funding in spring 2023, and the company already has ongoing partnerships with big global companies in the feed and food industries, such as Skretting, the global aquafeed division of Nutreco, Purina for pet food, and Valio for consumer food products.
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