Volta Greentech and Protos launch next phase of climate-friendly beef project in Sweden
Last summer saw the two entities first collaborate, with the launch of a methane-reduced beef brand in Coop supermarkets in Sweden, called Lome Beef. The product sold out within a week.
Starting from June 9 this year, Lome Beef will be available at Hemköp stores in the Stockholm area, initially at Torsplan, Stockholm City, and Mörby Centrum, for a limited period. Following the launch, Protos will sell the meat to grocery stores and wholesalers, subject to availability.
The beef for the Lome brand is produced by farmers chosen by Protos and Volta Greentech. They are incorporating Volta Greentech’s feed supplement, Lome, which is derived from the red algae, Asparagopsis, into the rations of their animals.
The Swedish startup, which was founded in 2019, maintains that the ingredient reduces the methane emissions of animals by 70–90% per day when included in their feed at an inclusion rate of 0.6%.
“The brand, Lome Beef, was launched last summer, in a pilot trial. Now we have secured a commitment for the delivery of algae for up to 1,000 cattle annually over five years, and, in that way, we can get Lome Beef out to consumers on a continuous basis,” Fredrik Åkerman, co-founder and CEO of Volta Greentech, told us.
Independent verification of trial data
Over the past two years, Volta Greentech conducted commercial demonstration projects on two Swedish beef farms: Tre Bönder outside of Stockholm and Ejmunds on the island Gotland. The developer said the results showed that methane emissions during the feeding period were reduced by up to 90%, with the data validated by independent research institute, RISE.
Following those pilots, Volta and Protos signed an agreement to scale up the use of the algae supplement.
“We have significant work ahead in scaling up algae production. But we are on our way. By offering Lome Beef, we have the opportunity to build a movement of climate-aware consumers who share our vision,” said Åkerman.
New factory
Volta Greentech currently produces its feed supplement in limited volumes at its pilot factory in Lysekil, Sweden. The algae are grown on land in large tanks, using nutrients, CO2, saltwater, and sunlight. It is then harvested, freeze-dried, and milled into a fine powder that constitutes the final product.
Its first large-scale algae factory – Volta Factory 2 - is scheduled to be operational in 2024.
Investment
Volta Greentech now has 14 employees from seven different nationalities, based in either Stockholm or in Lysekil.
Last November, the startup announced it had raised a total of €2m (US$2.08m) from investors.
The company has generated over €5m to date in funding, with backing from the Swedish Board of Agriculture, Sweden’s innovation agency, Vinnova, and financial services company, Almi Väst, as well as prominent entrepreneurs such as Claes Dinkelspiel (Nordnet) and Peter Carlsson (Northvolt).
