The Protein Brewery, a Dutch company, has received a €2.3 million grant from the EU LIFE Programme to scale and commercialize Fermotein®, a mycoprotein powder, for use in dairy alternative products. Fermotein is a nutritious powder that is high in protein, prebiotic fiber, essential micronutrients, and bioactives, and is produced using fungal biomass fermentation. The aim of the project is to improve the sustainability and nutrition of plant-based dairy alternatives by addressing current shortfalls in taste, nutrition, and affordability.

The Protein Brewery will work to optimize and scale its fermentation process, conduct market validation with key players in the dairy alternatives sector to demonstrate consumer acceptance, and conduct health studies to investigate the nutritional and health benefits of Fermotein. This funding follows the company's €30 million Series B funding last year and a positive scientific opinion from the European Food Safety Authority on the safety of Fermotein. The grant will accelerate the development of Fermotein and its potential in the dairy alternative market, contributing to sustainability and nutrition improvements in the industry.