On Episode #175 of the PricePlow Podcast, we sit down with Juan Benítez-García, Chief Sales Officer, and Sini Möttönen, Senior Application Scientist from Solar Foods at IFT First 2025 in Chicago. Broadcasting from the Sensapure Flavors booth, we explore the revolutionary Solein® protein that’s literally made “out of thin air”.

This isn’t your typical alternative protein story. Solar Foods has achieved what seemed impossible: creating complete, high-quality protein without farms, animals, or even plants. Using ancient Finnish microbes and renewable electricity, they’ve developed a process that bypasses photosynthesis entirely, producing protein that’s 80% pure with a complete amino acid profile including 20% BCAAs. The result is a golden-colored powder with exceptional nutritional density, including naturally high levels of iron and vitamin B12.

Our conversation reveals how biomass fermentation differs from precision fermentation, why Solein® tastes creamy with subtle nutty notes, and how this technology earned NASA recognition for feeding astronauts on Mars missions. From ice cream to protein bars, Juan and Sini demonstrate the versatility of this groundbreaking ingredient while explaining why it represents a fundamental shift toward sustainable, location-independent protein production.

https://blog.priceplow.com/podcast/solar-foods-solein-175

Video: Solar Foods Brings Protein “Out of Thin Air” to IFT First 2025

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQ3hlgn0cZI

Detailed Show Notes: The Science and Future of Air-Based Protein

Where to Follow Solar Foods and Connect with the Team

Thank you to Juan and Sini for sharing the incredible story of Solein® and demonstrating how ancient Finnish microbes, renewable electricity, and innovative engineering are revolutionizing protein production. …

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