Creating the ultimate vegan salmon: Revo Foods & Paleo partnership receives funding for 2.2 million EUR project

Belgian company Paleo and Revo Foods, the Vienna-based FoodTech start-up, announce a new project partnership. The project with a total project volume of 2.2 million EUR has been funded by the Eureka Eurostars funding programme, and for Paleo’s part also VLAIO. This funding enables the development of innovative myoglobin for vegan salmon alternatives using Paleo’s precision fermentation technology and Revo Foods 3D Structuring technology.

What Makes Myoglobin So Special for Food Technology?
Myoglobin, a heme protein, is crucial for the authentic taste and nutritional value of meat. Originally found in animal muscle tissue, it can be produced through fermentation processes. These proteins give many types of fish and meat their characteristic taste, color, iron-rich content and the typical aroma when cooking and roasting.

Collaboration and Project Goal – Paleo X Revo Foods:
The project, starting in August 2024 and running for two years, aims to develop myoglobin designed to mimic salmon and integrate it into the recipe for Revo Foods 3D structured vegan salmon filet alternative “THE FILET – Inspired by Salmon”. With 3D Structuring Technology, multiple materials can be integrated into each other, such as fats into a protein component (like the white stripes in “THE FILET”). Compared to conventional fish products, Revo Foods alternatives can save up to 90% of fresh water and 75% of CO2.

Thanks to the funding from Eureka Eurostars and for Paleo also the support of VLAIO, Paleo and Revo Foods are able to partner and develop sustainable and high-quality alternatives. Paleo produces myoglobin, then the protein will be incorporated into Revo Foods recipe. This will make the appearance of the vegan salmon filet even more similar to conventional salmon, the taste more authentic, and will improve the nutritional value, particularly the iron and protein content. Using myoglobin from precision fermentation can further reduce the ecological footprint and make a significant contribution to environmental protection, while Revo Foods in-house developed 3D Structuring technology enables efficient integration of myoglobin into food products. Revo Foods and Paleo are proud to enter this partnership to shape the future of food technology.

About Eureka Eurostars and VLAIO:
Eurostars is the largest international funding program for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that want to collaborate on research and development projects to develop innovative products, processes, or services. VLAIO (Flemish Agency for Innovation and Entrepreneurship) is the primary point of contact of the Flemish government for all entrepreneurs in Flanders, promoting and supporting innovation and entrepreneurship, and contributing to a favorable business climate.

About Paleo:
Paleo relies on the innovative technology of precision fermentation to produce animal proteins using yeast. The production process is entirely free of animal use and the company delivers an end-product that is free of GMO. Paleo currently develops beef myoglobin, complemented with species such as chicken, pork, tuna and even mammoth.

About Revo Foods:
Revo Foods is a leader in 3D food-printing technology, where multiple materials are structured together to create innovative textures and new functionalities, such as an ideal mouthfeel. In September 2024, Revo Foods opened the world’s largest 3D food-printing facility, the “TASTE FACTORY,” in Vienna, Austria. This industrial-scale plant can produce up to 60 tons per month when running at full capacity, marking a significant technological milestone in the food industry. “THE FILET”, their latest mycoprotein-based salmon-filet alternative is available in Austrian REWE and SPAR supermarkets and online across Europe since October 3rd, 2024.