Raisio secures €4.5 million research investment to transform grain side streams into next-generation fiber ingredients

Raisio recently secured funding for a four-year research project aimed at developing functional fiber ingredients from grain processing side streams, as the Finnish food company seeks to expand its innovation pipeline and create new value from underutilized raw materials.

• Raisio received €1.8 million (US$2.1 million) from Business Finland and committed an additional €2.7 million (US$3.2 million), creating a €4.5 million (US$5.3 million) research project focused on fiber ingredients from grain side streams.
• The project will develop new ingredients and production technologies while scaling up side-stream valorization processes at Raisio’s new pilot plant completed in 2026.
• Raisio joined a wider Finnish consortium of 16 companies and research organizations whose combined projects are worth approximately €12 million (US$14.0 million).

The company announced that it had been awarded €1.8 million (US$2.1 million) in funding from Business Finland for the initiative, titled Valorisation of Grain Sidestreams for Functional Fibres. Raisio will contribute a further €2.7 million (US$3.2 million), bringing the total value of the project to €4.5 million (US$5.3 million).

The funding forms part of a broader Finnish consortium involving 16 companies and research organizations working to advance a sustainable bioeconomy. Collectively, the consortium's projects are valued at approximately €12 million (US$14.0 million).

The initiatives are linked to the Global Center for Sustainable Bioproducts (GCSB), an international network bringing together universities, research institutes and industrial partners from Europe, North America and Asia. The network aims to accelerate the development of bio-based products derived from renewable resources.

Raisio's project will focus on creating new food ingredients and production technologies using grain-based processing side streams. The company said the objective is to develop future healthy food solutions by producing fiber ingredients that deliver both nutritional and technological benefits while improving the overall resource efficiency of grain processing.

A key element of the program will involve scaling up side-stream valorization technologies at Raisio's new pilot plant, which was completed in 2026 at the Raisionkaari industrial site in Finland. The company will also use the project to validate potential applications and market opportunities for the new ingredients.

The pilot plant itself previously received support through NextGenerationEU funding provided by Business Finland.

The project reflects growing commercial interest in fiber-rich food ingredients, which have become one of the fastest-growing areas of food innovation. Demand has been driven by consumer interest in gut health, weight management and more sustainable nutrition solutions.

For Raisio, the investment also represents a significant increase in resources dedicated to innovation. The company reported research and development expenditure of €3.2 million (US$3.7 million) in 2025, making the newly announced project one of its largest recent research commitments.

Reetta Andolin, Chief Innovation Officer at Raisio, highlighted the strategic importance of fiber innovation to the company's future plans.

“Fibre is becoming one of the most important areas in future food innovation, and we see significant international potential in turning grain side streams into high-value ingredients. This supports both our sustainability targets and our ambition to build new business,” said Andolin.

The consortium is coordinated by Åbo Akademi University and includes the University of Turku, Aalto University and 13 industry partners.

Raisio said its contribution to the collaboration centers on expertise in converting grain-based side streams into food ingredients and consumer products. The company believes the partnership will strengthen its access to international research networks while supporting its ambition to become a leading European innovator in fiber.

The project is scheduled to begin during 2026 and continue through the end of 2029. Raisio said the work is expected to support the long-term growth of its New Business operations while advancing technologies that can extract greater value from agricultural side streams.

As food manufacturers increasingly seek ways to improve sustainability and resource efficiency, interest has grown in technologies capable of converting byproducts and processing residues into commercially valuable ingredients. Raisio's latest investment places fiber development at the center of that effort, focusing on applications that combine nutritional benefits with more efficient use of existing agricultural resources.