Business Finland has conditionally approved a recycling and reuse investment grant of more than €12 million for biotech startup Enifer to build its first commercial-scale PEKILO^® mycoprotein ingredient factory.

This commercial-scale factory will produce Enifer’s unique PEKILO^® mycoprotein ingredients, via fungal fermentation. Enifer has taken the original process from the 1970s 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.

“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.”

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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