The Finnish dairy company Valio is launching a research collaboration with Melt&Marble, a company that develops fat-based raw materials using precision fermentation.

Melt&Marble is a Swedish startup specializing in producing fats for food applications through cellular agriculture. These fats can serve as alternatives to animal fats or plant-based fats such as palm oil. The goal of Valio and Melt&Marble’s long-term research and development partnership is to explore the properties of Melt&Marble’s innovative fats and create new, delicious plant-based foods that will eventually reach store shelves.

Melt&Marble’s solution involves microorganisms producing fat in a fermentation tank, a process known as cellular agriculture. This fat can be used in plant-based products to enhance their texture and mouthfeel, such as juiciness or creaminess. Additionally, the nutritional properties of the fat can be tailored. Melt&Marble’s fat can replace ingredients like palm oil, coconut fat, and shea fat, which are currently used in plant-based products to create a rich and appealing texture but come with various sustainability challenges.

To enter the European market with this type of fat, it requires novel food approval from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).

• We are excited about our collaboration with Melt&Marble, as we share an innovative mindset and a commitment to developing better and tastier products together in the long term. The aim of this partnership is to take the sensory qualities and nutritional content of Valio’s plant-based products to a whole new level by leveraging Melt&Marble’s cutting-edge technology,” says Saara Pöyri, Director of Product Development at Valio.

Lear more about the collaboration HERE

Photo: Valio