If you’ve turned on the news at all in the past decade or so, then you’ve no doubt seen that we have a serious issue with carbon dioxide. CO2 is one of the most common greenhouse gases responsible for climate change, and while we can all admit these emissions are a problem, too many of us seem reluctant to do something about it.
While there have been unique solutions for dealing with the problem ranging from reforestation efforts to turning CO2 back into automotive fuel, Finnish company Solar Foods has a truly unique solution… turning carbon dioxide into food!
What If We Could Eat Our Greenhouse Gases?
This isn’t a new idea. According to Big Think, the idea was first proposed by NASA as a way of making a steady supply of food for astronauts, and those colonizing other planets. However, the practical applications right here on Earth are certainly noteworthy. The way the process works is that Solar Foods uses green energy created through solar power, carbon capture to suck CO2 straight out of the air, and then combining it with water. The end result of this process is a high-protein, flour-like ingredient the company has dubbed Solein.
Solein is slated for a 2021 release, and it will likely appear first in protein shakes and similar health food drinks. However, its potential for food is vast. Not only is it carbon-negative (using more CO2 to produce than it creates), but it can be made anywhere since it doesn’t require arable land, a supply chain, etc. As long as there’s CO2, water, and electricity, there can be a source of food.
If that’s not living in the future, then what is?
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