Tokyo (SCCIJ) – The Swiss industrial engineer Mine Uran stepped down as Head of Protein R&D at Nestlé to set up a start-up called Alver with an economist as co-founder. Since then, she has come much closer to realize her vision of producing the food of the future by growing micro-algae.
Cereal bars containing protein powder from Chlorella micro-algae.
10 billion to feed
“All the experts sound the alarm. It won’t be possible to supply enough protein to the 10 billion people expected to be on the planet in thirty years. How are we going to feed ourselves from arable land that will inevitably disappear?” Ms. Uran asked herself and started looking for solutions in the sea.
She identified the golden chlorella micro-algae, which is invisible to the naked eye. Her company Alver grows them in vats in the dark, which stops it from developing its green color and bitter taste. “The chlorella ferments – a kind of brewing process – in a factory in Portugal,” she told the French newspaper Le Temps. The resulting liquid substance is then dried and ground into a yellow, tasteless powder.
Female founders
“Chlorella has the advantage of containing 63% protein but is also packed with vitamins B1, B2 and B6 and minerals, such as calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, and zinc. The product requires 44 times less water, 41 times less arable land, and generates 36 times less CO2 than for the equivalent of beef protein,” explained Mine. “A steak is made up of 25% protein, while the other 75% is fat, fiber, and carbohydrate.” The golden chlorella start-up and Alver brand began operations in 2016. A crowdfunding campaign on the Raizers platform raised CHF 288,000. Also, she patented the technology. Co-founder Majbritt Byskov-Bridges was a crucial person in persuading Mine to leave her secure job at Nestlé and create a start-up. Majbritt is an economist who worked in finance, with a particular interest in sustainable funds. Mine Uran met her a few years ago at the Women’s International Networking conference in Rome.
The engineer Mine Uran worked as Head of Protein R&D at Nestlé.
Fermented algae is dried and sold as protein powder.
“We’ve taken a huge risk. But sometime in life, you have to go with your convictions and grasp opportunities,” said Mine Uran. The Swiss start-up now has a turnover of CHF 300,000, selling its products in dozens of pharmacies and specialized grocery stores and through its website. The company sells the powder ‘as is’ as well as pasta, soups, cereal bars, and sauces containing the plant protein. Mine also works with partners, including Takinoa and Manor, which incorporate the powder in various dishes. “Also, we are working on a golden chlorella steak with ETH Zurich and floating the idea of a muesli,” reported Mine. The vegetarian hopes to attract not just vegans, but also flexitarians (people who are mainly vegetarian but occasionally eat meat or fish). “We intend to export our products to Germany and the UK,” said Mine Uran confidently.
Text and photos: SCCIJ with material of House of Switzerland.
