This funding will expedite the company's efforts to bring its innovative fermentation-based fats to market. The EIC's endorsement highlights the revolutionary potential of Melt&Marble's precision fermentation and microbial engineering platform, which aims to produce energy-efficient, resource-saving, low-emission foods.

Out of 969 full grant proposals, Melt&Marble stood out as one of 68 European deep tech startups to be awarded the unique blend of grant and equity funding from the EIC Accelerator. The EIC Accelerator Challenges sought proposals in areas where technologies or transformative innovations by startups or SMEs could significantly advance EU goals. Additionally, Melt&Marble was among 14 female-led companies to receive this funding, gaining access to top-tier expertise, corporates, investors, and ecosystem stakeholders.

Beyond the EIC grant, Melt&Marble also received a €260,000 grant from the Horizon Europe Framework Programme (HORIZON), part of the EU’s “Farm to Fork” strategy. This project, known as “DELICIOUS” and coordinated by RISE Processum, involves companies and R&D organisations across Europe. Melt&Marble will focus on creating dairy fats to enhance the taste and texture of dairy alternatives. This initiative will advance the company’s DairyMarble programme, which aims to deliver superior dairy fats for the next generation of cheeses, butters, and bakery products.

“We’re thrilled to receive this funding and proud to be recognized for our efforts in driving the transition towards a more sustainable food system,’’ said Anastasia Krivoruchko, Co-Founder & CEO, “The EU's commitment to supporting innovative food production technologies is truly encouraging. This funding will help bring us a step closer to offering delicious and healthy meat and dairy analogues, significantly improving both sustainability and food security,” Anastasia added.

The EIC funding will allow Melt&Marble to scale up its operations and reach pre-commercial levels. This grant will also facilitate the development of the company's debut product, MeatyMarble, while lowering production costs in anticipation of its commercial release.

MeatyMarble is Melt&Marble's inaugural product, a solid fat that mimics the characteristics of animal-derived fats, making it ideal for alternative meat products. This innovation aims to offer a more delicious and sustainable option to traditional meats. Additionally, Melt&Marble is investigating the broader applications of MeatyMarble in other sectors, such as personal care, where there is a rising demand for sustainable specialty fats driven by changing consumer preferences.

Chief Business Officer, Thomas Cresswell commented: “These grants mark a significant milestone for Melt&Marble, enabling us to decrease production costs, scale our innovative technology and bring sustainable fats to market. We are excited about the opportunities this creates for us to progress on our mission to enable the transition to a more sustainable agri-food system.’’