Melt&Marble, a food technology company specializing in sustainable designer fats, has received €2.76 million in grants from the European Union to support the development and commercial launch of a highly sustainable meat-like fat for use in alternative meat products. This initiative aligns with the EU’s “Farm to Fork” strategy, which aims to create a more sustainable and resilient food system. The funding will help the company advance its innovative fermentation-based fats, contributing to healthier and resource-efficient food options.
Melt&Marble has previously been recognized for its groundbreaking precision fermentation and microbial engineering platform, securing a €2.5 million grant and potential future equity investment from the European Innovation Council (EIC). Selected from a competitive pool of 969 applicants, the company is one of the 68 European deep tech start-ups chosen to receive this blend of grant and equity funding. Its inclusion in the EIC Accelerator highlights its potential to significantly impact EU objectives in sustainable food production. Additionally, Melt&Marble is one of 14 female-led companies to succeed in this funding round, gaining access to expertise, corporates, investors, and ecosystem actors.
EIC Funding and Future Prospects
The EIC grant will enable Melt&Marble to scale up its production process and advance to pre-commercial levels. This funding also supports the development of MeatyMarble™, their first product, which aims to replicate the properties of animal-derived fats for use in alt-meat products. By reducing production costs, the company hopes to accelerate the commercial launch of MeatyMarble™.
In addition to the EIC funding, Melt&Marble has secured a €260,000 grant from the Horizon Europe Framework Programme (HORIZON), coordinated by RISE Processum. This project, known as “DELICIOUS,” involves various companies and R&D organizations across Europe, focusing on developing dairy fats to enhance the properties of dairy analogues. This effort will advance Melt&Marble’s DairyMarble™ program, which aims to provide superior dairy fats for next-generation cheeses, butters, and bakery products.
Commitment to Sustainable Food Systems
Anastasia Krivoruchko, co-founder & CEO of Melt&Marble, expressed her enthusiasm for the funding and the recognition of their efforts in promoting sustainable food systems. She emphasized the EU’s commitment to supporting innovative food production technologies and the potential of this funding to bring closer the offering of delicious and healthy meat and dairy analogues, enhancing both sustainability and food security.
‘’We’re thrilled to receive this funding and proud to be recognized for our efforts in driving the transition towards a more sustainable food system,’’ said Anastasia Krivoruchko, co-founder & CEO. ‘’The EU’s commitment to supporting innovative food production technologies is truly encouraging. This funding will help bring us a step closer to offering delicious and healthy meat and dairy analogues, significantly improving both sustainability and food security.”
Melt&Marble’s first product, MeatyMarble™, is designed to replicate animal-derived fats for alternative meat products, aiming to provide a more delicious and sustainable option. The company is also exploring MeatyMarble™’s potential in other industries, such as personal care, driven by growing consumer demand for sustainable specialty fats. Chief Business Officer Thomas Cresswell highlighted the significance of the grants in reducing production costs, scaling technology, and bringing sustainable fats to market.
‘’These grants mark a significant milestone for Melt&Marble, enabling us to decrease production costs, scale our innovative technology and bring sustainable fats to market. We are excited about the opportunities this creates for us to progress on our mission to enable the transition to a more sustainable agri-food system.’’ said Thomas Cresswell, Chief Business Officer.
Melt&Marble’s success in securing EU grants reflects the growing importance of sustainable food technologies in addressing global challenges. By focusing on precision fermentation and microbial engineering, the company aims to create healthier, energy-efficient, and low-emission food options. This aligns with the broader goals of the EU’s “Farm to Fork” strategy, which seeks to make food systems more sustainable and resilient. With the backing of substantial EU funding, Melt&Marble is well-positioned to make significant contributions to the alternative meat and dairy sectors, as well as to other industries like personal care.
