Dutch foodtech startup Cano-ela has raised €1.6 million in a new funding round. Participants included existing investor Oost NL and new investors Value Factory Ventures and Ecoseed.
Cano-ela is working to transform underutilized canola seeds into high-value plant-based ingredients by processing them in an innovative way. These ingredients could reportedly be used by food companies to create the next generation of sustainable and natural plant-based foods.
The startup aims to improve on existing extraction methods for oilseeds, which only extract one component (vegetable oil) and create big streams with poor functionality. Cano-ela told Silicon Canals that the new funding would allow it to upgrade its pilot facility, increase production capacity, and accelerate collaborations with food producers.
“New exciting phase”
Cano-Ela’s ingredients include:
- Cano-cream — A natural emulsifier allowing food companies to remove refined oils, lecithins, other emulsifiers, and synthetic antioxidants.
- Cano-soluble — A pre-mix of highly soluble proteins and hydrocolloids available in either powder or liquid form. It is high in protein and can be used in foods such as meat substitutes, protein bars, and ice creams. The pre-mix can help food companies remove soy and gluten-derived ingredients, thickeners, emulsifiers, and other synthetic hydrocolloids.
- Cano-fiber — An ingredient rich in antioxidants, insoluble dietary fiber, and protein. It allows food companies to boost the nutritional profile of their products while keeping a clean label.
Worldwide, a few other companies are working to produce innovative ingredients from oilseeds. These include New Zealand’s Miruku, which is developing novel dairy proteins and fats using molecular farming and oilseed crops, along with Bulgaria’s ExSeed, which has developed a protein isolate from sunflower press cake (a side stream of sunflower oil production).
“With this investment, Cano-ela is entering into a new exciting phase!” said the company on LinkedIn. “The journey is just beginning, and we can’t wait to drive the future of sustainable food solutions together!”
