Struggling to understand your customers?
Get clarity with the Target Your Messaging Workbook 👉🏻

All set! Check your email for your workbook.
Hmm, that's not right. Try again?

Sophie's BioNutrients: Growing Sustainable Microalgae Proteins for a Better Future

December 9, 2021
Theresa "Sam" Houghton

The Modern Health Nerd Podcast, Episode #43

Can some of the smallest living things on the planet change the future of the food system—and create a better world? According to Eugene Wang, microalgae has that power.
‍
Through his company, Sophie's BioNutrients, Eugene and his team are fermenting and extracting unique microalgae proteins suitable for a creating a variety of plant-based food products.
Their proteins are sustainable, affordable and can be grown anywhere.

We cover a ton of ground in this super-nerdy episode, including:

  • Eugene's unique background in plant-based food manufacturing
  • How using fermentation to grow microalgae increases the protein's sustainability and lowers costs
  • How quickly and prolifically microalgae grows compared to animal and plant proteins
  • How microalgae protein can provide for increased protein demands at a lower financial and environmental cost than common proteins like soy
  • Unique products Sophie's BioNutrients has been able to create using its microalgae proteins
  • Nutrient profile of microalgae protein vs. soy
  • The properties that may make microalgae versatile enough to withstand extreme climate conditions
  • Overcoming consumers' innate resistance to change to help them embrace new food categories and flavors

About Eugene

eugene wang of sophie's bionutrients

Eugene Wang grew up immersed in the vegetarian food business. Since 2010, his vision for launching Sophie’s Kitchen, the first Plant-Based Seafood Alternative, has manifested into a viable innovation.

Sophie’s Kitchen had won numerous recognitions from companies like PepsiCo and Chipotle.In 2019, Eugene took alternative protein to the microorganism level and started another venture: Sophie’s BioNutrients Singapore. He won $1 million SGD at The Livability Challenge 2019 with this project and started protein fermentation facility in Singapore.

About Sophie's BioNutrients

Using a proprietary strain of microalgae grown in a fermentation tank, Sophie's BioNutrients is creating a new, sustainable plant-based protein. This results in a product that's 60% protein and has a high-quality essential amino acid profile that exceeds the WHO requirements for protein products.

Sustainability is inherent in the process.

The growing system can be set up near metropolitan areas to cut down the needs for agriculture and transportation, improve food security and reduce risks associated with supply chain disruption. The 3- to 10-day production cycle creates protein in a fraction of the time required for soy or beef and can be fueled entirely by industrial food waste.

Sophie's BioNutrients microalgae require very little water and only the land needed to set up an indoor production facility. With no need for fertilizer, herbicide, antibiotics, or growth hormones, it's truly healthy for both the environment and the human body.

Connect with Eugene & Learn More About the Company

For Further Listening

For more plant-based nerdity and industry insights, drop your email in the box in the sidebar to receive updates! 👉🏻

More nerdy episodes

Hey there! 👋🏻I use cookies to monitor site activity and gather analytics data. Please see the Modern Health Nerd Privacy & Cookie Policy for details.

Click "Accept" if that's okay with you. If not, click "Deny."