Valio strengthens its Food 2.0 strategy with investment in Melt&Marble’s cellular agriculture fat technology

Valio strengthens its Food 2.0 strategy with investment in Melt&Marble’s cellular agriculture fat technology

(IN BRIEF) Valio has invested in Sweden-based Melt&Marble, a cellular agriculture company developing customizable fat ingredients using precision fermentation. The startup raised over EUR 7 million from Valio and other private and institutional investors to scale manufacturing and move toward product commercialization. The investment supports Valio’s five-year Food 2.0 programme, funded by Business Finland, which seeks new food system solutions that integrate cellular, plant and animal agriculture. Melt&Marble’s technology provides sustainable alternatives to palm, coconut and shea fats, helping manufacturers tailor product functionality and reduce environmental concerns. The company will seek EFSA novel food authorization ahead of launching products expected to reach the market in the coming years. A research partnership between Valio and Melt&Marble is already underway to enhance taste, nutrition and performance in future plant-based foods.

(PRESS RELEASE) HELSINKI, 8-Dec-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — Valio has strengthened its role in future-focused food innovation by investing in the Swedish cellular agriculture company Melt&Marble, a startup specializing in the development of novel fat ingredients through precision fermentation. Melt&Marble secured more than EUR 7 million in its latest funding round, supported by Valio and several other investors, enabling the company to expand production capacity and progress toward the commercial launch of its first products.

This investment aligns closely with Valio’s long-term Food 2.0 programme, launched in 2024 and backed by Business Finland. Over the next five years, the initiative aims to help reshape the global food system and accelerate the adoption of solutions that combine animal-based, plant-based and cellular agriculture to meet the nutritional needs of a growing population.

According to Harri Kallioinen, Senior Vice President of Research and Development at Valio, cellular agriculture holds the potential to significantly enhance food quality, flavour and functionality. He emphasizes that innovation at this scale requires cooperation between established industry players and emerging technology-driven companies, opening new pathways for product development as well as opportunities for Finland’s food sector in international markets.

Melt&Marble’s technology focuses on creating customizable fats that help manufacturers achieve specific product attributes while reducing dependence on palm oil, coconut fat, shea fat and other ingredients linked to environmental or ethical challenges. By using precision fermentation, the company offers a scalable and sustainable alternative that can be tailored for performance in a variety of applications.

CEO Anastasia Krivoruchko notes that the recently secured funding marks Melt&Marble’s transition from research and development toward commercial execution, moving them closer to producing high-performance ingredients with lower environmental impact. Additional participants in the round include Industrifonden, Beiersdorf, Chalmers Ventures, Catalyze Capital and the European Innovation Council (EIC) Fund.

Earlier this year, Valio and Melt&Marble began a long-term research and product development collaboration aimed at significantly improving the flavour, texture and nutritional profile of Valio’s plant-based offering. Because the introduction of new fat ingredients in Europe requires novel food approval, Melt&Marble will apply for authorization through the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). The first products created under this partnership are expected to enter the market within the next few years.

Susanna Kallio, Vice President at Valio, highlights that tailored fats produced through cellular agriculture represent a key building block for next-generation food products, adding that Valio is eager to support Melt&Marble in scaling production and advancing toward commercialization.

About Melt&Marble

Melt&Marble is a pioneering company dedicated to enabling the transition towards a more sustainable future by revolutionising the production of fats. Using advanced microbial engineering and precision fermentation, Melt&Marble produces tailored fats from simple feedstocks, without relying on unsustainable animal or plant sources. These next-generation ingredients are designed for superior sustainability, performance, and health profiles across industries.

The company’s platform, built on over a decade of research and protected by a robust IP portfolio, enables the creation of both bio-identical and novel fats. Melt&Marble’s initial focus is on delivering functional and sustainable fat solutions to the alternative protein and personal care sectors.   For further information, see https://www.meltandmarble.com/

Media Contact:

Tel: +358 10 381 2118
email: mediadesk@valio.fi

SOURCE: Valio