The next level of food processing technology | Revo Foods

Name of the submitted project or idea (in English or both English and your language)

The next level of food processing technology
URL of a video introducing the work（under 5 minutes）
Detailed explanation of the submitted project or idea (in English or both English and your language)

Revo Foods is a food tech company based in Vienna, Austria. Our objective is to develop new process technologies to produce plant-based seafood products that recreate the taste and appearance of whole-cut seafood. Our vision is to improve the quality of meat/seafood alternatives by advanced manufacturing technologies, leading to a wider mainstream adoption of these products. Our mission is to create seafood alternatives that consumers love, while also protecting the marine ecosystem and helping to restore our oceans.
As the pioneering company in the production of realistic and tasty plant-based seafood, we offer a one-of-a-kind experience to customers who are seeking sustainable, healthy, and delicious seafood options.
Our technology is based on a unique texturization approach and ingredient processing, with which we can achieve a superior level of sensory qualities, particularly for whole-cut products (e.g., fish fillets). Our technology includes a pioneering 3D manufacturing process, which allows us to have continuous and scalable production for the first time thanks to our newly developed extruder design and material conveying device (patents pending). As the technology is proprietary and not available off-the-shelf, we see big opportunities in becoming an enabled/platform for other manufacturers in the future that might license our tech components. We are now working intensely on the industrial upscaling of our salmon filet production. The plan is to have a production unit of 32 connected 3D printers that can produce around 450.000 filets a month.
We already have five products on the market, including the world’s first 3D printed food item, a salmon filet with the name “The Filet – Inspired by Salmon. Currently, our products are available in 21 European countries at over 3,000 locations. Our monthly revenue is currently around 100.000 EUR, but we expect this to increase significantly as we expand our product portfolio and enter new markets. We have previously received approximately 6.8 million EUR in funding from private investors and public grants to support our operations.
The founding members of Revo Foods have a strong science and engineering background and have previous experience in startups, 3D printing and food technology. Our team consists of 40 members, including food scientists, process engineers, and business/marketing experts. This number is expected to grow to 60 until 2025.
How does your work address the 3 P’s (for Planet, for People, for Profit) for Sustainability?

Planet
Our products can lead to a reduced destruction of the marine ecosystem, including overfishing, nitrification and acidification and destruction of coastal marine areas. Plant-based meat production has been shown to produce 90% fewer greenhouse gases, use 50% less energy and use 95% less water and land compared to conventional meat production. Given that similar ingredients are being used in our process, we calculated that the production of our first product (smoked salmon) leads to about 75% less CO2 emission, 50% less energy usage and up to 95% less fresh-water usage compared to fresh conventional salmon.
People
By offering a fish alternative, a shift in demand might lead to the fishing industry decreasing unsustainable overfishing activities. The subsequently increased abundance of fish may benefit coastal communities in developing countries that depend on fishing as a source of food and income, which are struggling to compete with multinational fishing corporations.
Conventional seafood can accumulate harmful substances like heavy metals, microplastics, dioxins, PCBs, parasites, and viruses, posing health risks, especially when consumed raw. Pregnant individuals are advised against consuming raw seafood due to potential health hazards. Our products prioritize food safety by using plant-based ingredients free of heavy metals and parasites. We adhere to industry guidelines to prevent contamination and conduct batch analysis to ensure top product quality. Our offerings are safe for pregnant people, individuals with fish allergies, and other previously restricted consumer groups, promoting health and well-being.
Profit
The industry of alternative proteins is rising rapidly in the coming years, also shown by the entry of more established food producers into this segment. Innovation in this field may lead to more efficient production methods, better taste/texture, and a decrease in food waste. New process technology can also lead to more nutritious foods which are advantageous from a consumer perspective, due to milder process conditions. Flexible production allows the production of seafood products also in areas with no direct sea access, therefore being more stable during international supply chain disruptions.
Where (country, region, etc.) have you primarily carried out your project?

Our main market is the DACH-area, consisting of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. However, our products are available in a total of 21 European countries in restaurants, supermarkets, and online shops. Soon, we want to expand to North America and Asia Pacific.
What is the timeline your project has taken place over?

2021-present
Keywords

3D food printing, food tech, manufacturing
If you have a website for your submitted project or idea, please provide the URL

https://revo-foods.com/
If you have a social media account for your submitted project or idea, please provide the URL

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RevoFoodsOfficial, Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/revo_foods/, Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@revofoods?
Special Prize Question 1: Is there a mechanism in place to inherit culture and industry as assets for people living in that area 100 or even 1000 years from now?

Industrial fishery has detrimental environmental effects, including overfishing that threatens marine ecosystems and non-sustainable practices. By-catch, which unintentionally catches non-target species, results in significant animal deaths. The industry emits substantial greenhouse gases and consumes large amounts of fuel. Harmful fishing practices, such as bottom trawling, worsen CO2 emissions. Aquaculture, while growing, is unsustainable because it relies on wild fish for feed, leading to environmental issues and antibiotic use. Pollution from microplastics and heavy metals poses health risks. Additionally, fish can carry parasites, bacteria, and viruses, particularly concerning when consumed raw. In summary, the fishing industry, at current levels, is unsustainable and poses risks to the environment, climate, and human health.
Our products help protect the marine ecosystem by helping fish populations to regenerate, reducing the pressure of overfishing, and mitigating the harm caused by unsustainable fishing practices. This creates a more balanced and sustainable cycle within the ecosystem, benefiting not only human interests but also the health and diversity of marine life.
Additionally, the production of our products results significantly less CO2 emissions, as well as water and energy consumption.
Special Prize Question 2: What is the positive impact on biodiversity? Is the project creating a cycle not just from a human-centered perspective but for the entire ecosystem?
Special Prize Question 3: Are you enabling new forms of collaboration with others? New forms of collaboration might include cross-industry cooperation, co-creation with consumers, or role transformations within the supply chain.