Finnish food tech takes a giant leap: Solar Foods wins international category in NASA's Deep Space Food Challenge

In a significant win for space exploration and sustainable food production, Finnish company Solar Foods has been crowned the international category winner in NASA's Deep Space Food Challenge. This prestigious competition, launched in 2021 by NASA and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), aimed to identify innovative solutions for feeding astronauts on lengthy space missions.

The announcement, made at a ceremony held on The Ohio State University's Columbus campus, validates Solar Foods' unique protein source, Solein, as a highly promising answer to the challenges of food production in space. Traditional methods become impractical on long-haul missions due to limited space and resources. Solar Foods' solution tackles this head-on, reimagining the Solein bioprocess for a smaller footprint while significantly improving water efficiency – a crucial factor for any future spacecraft.

"Our primary goal is to address the global food crisis," explained Arttu Luukanen, Senior Vice President of Space & Defence at Solar Foods, who was a panelist on the July Protein Production Technology International webinar, Raising for Research: Financing options for funding fermentation R&D in today’s investing climate. "Solein is designed for terrestrial use, but space travel provides the ultimate test for a circular economy. It's both an opportunity to advance scientific history and a chance to expand our business. We're thrilled to contribute to humanity's journey deeper into space while simultaneously developing Solein production for extreme environments on Earth."

This victory follows Solar Foods' impressive showing in the previous phases of the challenge, solidifying the company's position as a frontrunner in space food innovation. Their solution leverages the same microbial gas fermentation technique used on Earth to cultivate Solein. Space habitats naturally generate byproducts like hydrogen (from oxygen production) and carbon dioxide (exhaled by astronauts). Solar Foods' system integrates seamlessly with existing spacecraft life support systems, utilizing these very byproducts as fuel for Solein production. This innovative approach eliminates the need to vent waste materials and creates a closed-loop food production system, drastically reducing reliance on pre-packaged supplies.

"Winning Phase III is a major accomplishment," added Luukanen. "We anticipate it will significantly enhance our profile with space agencies and companies developing commercial space stations. Solar Foods is eager to collaborate with these entities to expedite the development and deployment of our technology in orbit, potentially reaching the Moon and eventually Mars."

Solein is a revolutionary all-purpose protein source produced using air and electricity. This patented bioprocess utilizes a single, naturally occurring microbe that thrives on air fermentation. The resulting product is a highly nutritious and versatile ingredient, capable of replacing or enhancing protein content in various food products. Solein boasts a rich vitamin and mineral profile, particularly iron, fiber, and B vitamins, adding valuable nutritional value to existing food items. Additionally, its unique properties offer exciting technological functionalities, making it a truly adaptable ingredient for any dietary need or food application.

This victory marks a pivotal moment for Solar Foods and the future of space exploration. It signifies a significant step towards establishing sustainable food production systems in space, paving the way for longer, more ambitious missions for astronauts. With its innovative technology and focus on resource efficiency, Solar Foods is not only taking humanity deeper into space but also contributing to the development of sustainable food solutions here on Earth.