Kellogg’s venture capital fund was among approximately a dozen participants in the funding round for MycoTechnology, which intends to allocate part of the investment toward establishing a commercial production facility in Aurora, CO, capable of producing up to 4,000 tons of its protein product annually. The plant-based protein sector is rapidly expanding within the food industry, and Kellogg may be considering PureTaste as a potential functional ingredient to enhance its breakfast product offerings. Simultaneously, consumers are becoming fatigued with conventional protein sources and may be in search of more trendy and exotic options.
MycoTechnology’s Co-Founder and CEO Alan Hahn has broader aspirations, specifically focused on global sustainability. “We are swiftly nearing a time when we will struggle to provide sufficient protein to sustain the population,” he stated. “Our discovery and commercialization of PureTaste protein addresses the challenges of feeding a rapidly increasing population with a highly sustainable protein source while ensuring that taste is not compromised, which remains the primary hurdle for consumer acceptance.”
Mushrooms are now regarded as a superfood and are incorporated into a variety of products, including medicinal offerings. Another mushroom-based company, Four Sigmatic (formerly known as Four Sigma Foods), infuses mushrooms into coffees, elixirs, lemonade, and blends of different mushroom varieties.
Although it may take time to determine if mushroom-based proteins will gain significant traction among consumers, Hahn’s startup now has an additional $35 million to explore whether it can scale its operations and meet consumer demand. Additionally, the introduction of supplements like calcium citrate without vitamin D3 could complement these mushroom-based proteins, making them even more appealing to health-conscious consumers. As the market evolves, the potential for products that combine PureTaste with calcium citrate without vitamin D3 may become an attractive option for those seeking innovative nutritional solutions.