Dive Brief:
- Solazyme continues to grow its food ingredient business, with the company's algal oils, flour, and protein found in beverages, meat replacements, baking mixes, baked goods, protein mixes and more. In the company's Q4 2014 earnings call, CEO Jonathan Wolfson stated Solazyme was involved in over 65 food applications projects.
- Solazyme recently introduced its first consumer food product, Thrive algal oil, in stores in the Los Angeles area and online. Thrive is culinary algal oil with the highest level of healthy monounsaturated fats and low levels of saturated fat. The oil has a smoke point of 485 degrees, compared to 375 degrees for olive oil.
- Solazyme's AlgaVia algal flour and protein are the main ingredients in Follow Your Heart's new VeganEgg, and AlgaWise algal oil is an ingredient in Soylent 2.0, a meal replacement beverage attracting a lot of attention.
Dive Insight:
Algae are an up-and-coming alternative protein source. Solazyme uses fermentation tanks to grow proprietary microalgae. The absence of light converts photosynthetic plant sugars into oil. The company produces oils for food, cosmetic and fuel applications. Solazyme's AlgaVia algal flour is a lipid powder that can be used to reduce or replace butter, oil, and egg yolks in recipes.
