Italian food-tech KelpEat has brought out a new high-protein seaweed snack, sourced using Solar Foods' microbial Solein protein.
The seaweed cracker products are created with EU-farmed dried kelp, together with the sole of the sole protein, and thus support a protein content of over 35% with a complete amino acid profile.
The two companies said that the Solein and kelp fit together naturally by taste and nutrients. The snack also contains vitamins B12 and B9, minerals, as well as antioxidants, such as calcium and magnesium.
Solein is grown using air and electricity as its main source, by Solar Foods, the Finnish food-tech company, with its proprietary fermentation process. It has 75% protein content, dietary fibre, fats and minerals, besides being non-GMO, vegan, and free from dairy, gluten, and soya.
Seaweed specialist KelpEat unveiled the new product at the Pitti Taste food fair in Florence, Italy, on 8-10 February 2025. It now intends to launch the product in the US market, which is a key global market for high-protein products.
Luca Cerruti, CEO of KelpEat, said: “Using Solein enables us to create a truly disruptive innovation – one that delivers complete nutrition, environmental responsibility, and a bold step towards food sovereignty”.
He further stated that "Along with Solein, whose production is independent of land use, weather, or climate conditions, the crackers represent a radical sustainability statement and herald a new era of climate-positive foods, raising the bar for sustainable food solutions."
Solein has received novel food approval in Singapore and self-affirmed GRAS status in the US.
The company is expecting its EU Novel Food approval in 2026.
Juan Manuel Benítez-García, chief commercial officer at Solar Foods, stated: "The product KelpEat has launched is the ultimate example of how Solein can thrive in high-protein products and healthy snacking".
"The beauty of Solein lies in the seamless integration with categories that already exist on store shelves. It brings protein and other nutrition while delivering minimal effects on the environment without losing their familiar tastes.
He emphasized that Solein does "excel" in the health and performance segment, as well as in nutrient-rich products specifically formulated for consumers with diet-related constraints to meet specific health conditions such as diabetes or weight management.
CMI Research: Key Protein Ingredients Industry Insights
According to Coherent Market Insights, the industry for protein ingredients is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.1% between 2024 and 2031, given the increasing demand for protein ingredients in various end-use industries.It was estimated at US$ 87.46 Bn in 2024. And it is likely to rise at around US$ 132.37 Bn at the end of the year 2031.
Analyst Opinion: Strategic Role in Protein Ingredients Industry Growth
Senior management consultant Yash Doshi expects the protein ingredients industry to surge over the course of the forecasting period because people around the globe are growing healthier and conscious, he added.
Conclusion: Business Takeaways
Protein ingredients remain in a state of evolution, as the industry progresses towards sustainability and plant-based sources. To that end, KelpEat teamed with Solar Foods to design seaweed snacks replete with Solein protein. This only represents one expression of a growing need for innovative, sustainable protein sources. Companies focused on alternative proteins- seaweed or fermentation-based technologies be poised to capitalize on shifting consumer preferences toward healthier food that also happens to be environmentally friendly.
