Solar Foods has partnered with Japanese food manufacturer, Ajinomoto, to launch two new limited-edition Solein-powered products in the Singapore market.

The new products, Traditional Flowering Mooncakes and Ice Cream Sandwiches are the first to be launched under Ajinomoto’s new brand Atlr.72.

The products are the result of Solar Foods and Ajinomoto’s strategic product development partnership, which the firms entered into last year, to pilot Solein-powered products in Singapore.

Solein is an all-purpose protein grown with air – the bioprocess takes a single microbe and grows it by fermenting it using air and electricity. Solein is a nutritionally rich and versatile ingredient that can replace protein ‘virtually in any food’. It can also be used as a fortifier to complement the nutritional profile of various foods, as it is a source of iron, fibre and B vitamins, and it can also bring different techno-functionalities into food products.

The partnership is now proceeding to the next stage with the launch of Ajinomoto’s conscious brand Atlr.72 (Atelier Seven Two) to drive the company’s green food business, in response to the growing demand for health- and environmentally-conscious products.

After piloting the products in Singapore, the first market where Solein has been granted the food authorities’ novel food approval, Ajinomoto is looking to expand into other countries and regions. The company also plans to broaden the brand from sweet products to everyday foods.

Solein expects to enter the US market with a US GRAS status (Generally Recognized As Safe) in the coming months, opening up new possibilities for the commercial use of Solein. In addition, applications for novel food authorisation have previously been filed in other key markets such as the UK and the European Union.

The launch follows Solar Foods’ opening of Factory 01 in April this year – the first facility that provides commercial-scale production of Solein for the needs of the food industry, food brands and food service companies; making it possible for Solein to be available to consumers on a large scale, for the first time.

Solar Foods’ CEO and co-founder, Pasi Vainikka, said: “Ajinomoto’s launch marks an important milestone on our journey to renew existing food categories and reduce the environmental impact of food production. It’s a major step for the commercial use of Solein as our new factory is now ramping up its production, paving the way for the introduction of Solein to people’s plates.”

He continued: “With the new brand, Ajinomoto proposes a new food lifestyle that fosters a respect for nature in today’s consumers. Solar Foods is proud to be supporting this ambition, and we share the vision for what the future of food will be.”

The Atlr.72 Flowering Mooncakes and Ice Cream Sandwiches, substitute dairy for Solein, giving the final products a protein boost and reducing their environmental impact. Solein also contributes to the rich consistency of the ice cream. The other ingredients in the products were selected with a focus on health and environmental sustainability.

This is not the first product to launch from Solar Foods. In January, the start-up partnered with Finnish food company Fazer to introduce a snack bar in Singapore, containing Solar Foods’ novel Solein protein ingredient.

The products are available for a limited time in Ajinomoto’s pop-up stores in two of Singapore's commercial facilities, Takashimaya Singapore and One Holland Village.

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