We all make choices every day that affect nature more than we might think – the choice of what we eat, how exactly we grow plants, or even what kind of soil we use when planting in our garden. Environmentally conscious choices are also made by companies, making sustainable decisions easier for all of us. Three environmentally sustainable companies are participating in the Forest, Soil, and Biodiversity Green Accelerator: Mati Foods, Gens, and Alleverde.
Mati Foods – meat alternatives that make no compromises on taste or texture
Mati Foods is an innovative food technology startup developing healthy, sustainable, and delicious meat alternatives from mycelium. Many people want to eat healthier and more eco-friendly, but don’t want to compromise on taste or texture. Mati Foods combines these goals, as their products are naturally derived and contain all essential amino acids, yet the meat alternatives are free of cholesterol and antibiotic residues. Mycelium-based meat substitutes are high in protein, and this protein is highly bioavailable. Mati’s chicken alternative was also chosen as the best plant-based product on the Estonian market in 2024.
Thanks to the Green Accelerator, Mati Foods calculated the greenhouse gas emissions of their products throughout their lifecycle. It turns out that, compared to chicken meat, emissions from Mati’s chicken alternative are twice as low. A deep analysis also revealed challenges related to the transportation of finished products. The company is now working to improve efficiency in this area.
Gens – fertile fields in harmony with nature’s principles
Farmers are facing increasingly complex challenges: soil depletion, extreme weather, and a high dependency on external inputs. Gens is a company that helps farmers restore their land and production systems by offering tools and knowledge on how to act following nature’s principles. With Gens’ help, fertile and healthy fields are created, enabling farmers to increase their profitability and ensure that farming remains possible in the future.
With the help of the Green Accelerator, Gens is developing the prototype of a bioreactor that allows farmers to produce bio-fertilisers on-site at their farms. This helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions, lowers costs, and also improves soil health. Gens provides support for farmers to gradually move toward regenerative agriculture. The first bioreactor prototype is currently being tested with a group of farmers. Collaboration with farmers is key to improving product functionality and user experience, as this is the only way to ensure the profitability, scalability, and seamless operation of bio-fertiliser production.
Alleverde – growing soil that doesn’t burden nature
Alleverde produces peat-free growing soils enriched with beneficial microorganisms that support the natural growth of plants. Their sowing and planting mixes are based on fast-growing local biomass and offer an environmentally friendly alternative to peat, the extraction of which damages Estonia’s bogs and biodiversity. To help customers get used to Alleverde’s innovative products and achieve the best results, each user is offered personalised technical advice.
Participation in the Green Accelerator has allowed Alleverde to develop its products and test production materials. Additionally, support from mentors and trainers has helped them stay focused and accelerate progress.
Alleverde’s goal is to develop environmentally friendly, 100% peat-free soil mixes made from rapidly renewable local biomass. It is also beneficial for Estonia to smartly valorise production process residues before they become waste. All of this helps reduce the pressure on peat extraction and aids in preserving bog ecosystems. Alleverde is seeking solutions to upcycle various residual materials as components in growing soil. For example, they are exploring the possibility of using reed in their soil mixes, as it could help reduce nutrient loads in lakes and prevent shoreline overgrowth. The focus is on a community mindset, where people don’t necessarily have to buy growing soil in plastic bags from stores, but feel empowered to make it themselves using local natural resources.
“Forests, Soil & Biodiversity” green accelerator, led by Baltic Innovation Agency, Sparkup Tartu Science Park, and the Estonian University of Life Sciences. Supported by the KIK (Environmental Investment Centre) and the Ministry of Climate
