---
title: "Estonian researchers make “salmon” from peas, advance to the finals of a food contest"
id: "71517"
type: "post"
slug: "estonian-researchers-make-salmon-from-peas-advance-to-the-finals-of-a-food-contest"
published_at: "2023-05-15T21:42:15+00:00"
modified_at: "2023-05-15T21:42:16+00:00"
url: "https://estonianworld.com/technology/estonian-researchers-make-salmon-from-peas-advance-to-the-finals-of-a-food-contest/"
markdown_url: "https://estonianworld.com/technology/estonian-researchers-make-salmon-from-peas-advance-to-the-finals-of-a-food-contest.md"
excerpt: "Researchers from the Estonian Centre of Food and Fermentation Technologies have made it to the final six of the global XPRIZE Feed the Next Billion […]"
taxonomy_category:
  - "Knowledge"
  - "Technology"
publisher: "Estonian World"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Sten Hankewitz"
author_url: "https://estonianworld.com/author/stenhankewitz/"
---

# Estonian researchers make “salmon” from peas, advance to the finals of a food contest

![Image](https://estonianworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Salmon-made-out-of-peas-by-Estonian-researchers.-Photo-by-Siim-Vahur-1024x683.jpg)

Estonian researchers have made “salmon” from pea protein. Photo by Siim Vahur.

By  [Sten Hankewitz](https://estonianworld.com/author/stenhankewitz/)
  ·  May 15, 2023  · [Knowledge](https://estonianworld.com/category/knowledge/)
, [Technology](https://estonianworld.com/category/technology/)
 · 2 minutes of reading

### Researchers from the Estonian Centre of Food and Fermentation Technologies have made it to the final six of the global XPRIZE Feed the Next Billion competition with “salmon” made from pea protein.

According to Sirli Rosenvald, the head of meat alternatives and plant proteins at the Estonian Centre of Food and Fermentation Technologies, reaching the final stage of the XPRIZE competition is a “tremendous recognition” for the centre’s researchers’ work, as they compete against other teams for the USD15 million prize.

As demand for meat increases with the world’s growing population, XPRIZE Feed the Next Billion seeks to more sustainable and versatile alternative “meat” products capable of competing with conventional products on the market.

Research groups around the world are developing meat alternatives from plant-based sources, using preferred local raw materials, such as oats, beans and peas, for example, in Estonia. With technology developing, the first fillet-like products can already be found on supermarket shelves.

![Image](https://estonianworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/The-Estonian-research-team.-Photo-by-ACUBE-1024x683.jpg)

The researching team at the Estonian Centre of Food and Fermentation Technologies. Photo by XPRIZE.

Rosenvald’s research group, consisting of six young dedicated Estonian food scientists with an average age of 30, submitted an application for the XPRIZE competition in December 2020, and the final event will take place next year.

### A thorough analysis and tasting samples

The researchers’ goal is for the salmon fillet alternative to come to market as a real product, under the brand of either a local Estonian or foreign company.

To qualify for the final stage of the XPRIZE competition, each team had to submit samples of their alternative “salmon” fillet to the judging panel, the competition’s independent evaluation committee. These samples underwent thorough analysis and were evaluated based on nutritional value, texture, their environmental impact and economic potential. Additionally, during the semi-finals, the team had to serve the samples to the judges for evaluation of their similarity to real salmon.

XPRIZE is a global movement delivering breakthroughs for the benefit of humanity. It inspires and empowers a global community of problem-solvers to positively impact the world by crowdsourcing solutions through large-scale competitions, tackling the world’s grandest challenges.

Researchers at the Estonian Centre of Food and Fermentation Technologies

The Estonian Centre of Food and Fermentation Technologies is a centre for biotechnology and food science in Estonia, employing over 100 researchers.

## About The Author

![Avatar photo](https://estonianworld.com/wp-content/uploads/local-avatars/15/1707599474-bpfull-100x100.jpg)

[Sten Hankewitz](https://estonianworld.com/author/stenhankewitz/)
Sten Hankewitz is a lifelong journalist and the Executive Editor at Estonian World. Having lived in Estonia, Spain, the UK and all around the US, he now resides in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. He loves to write and besides working at Estonian World, he [writes books](https://estonianworld.com/culture/the-grand-illusion-estonian-worlds-sten-hankewitz-publishes-a-novel-about-growing-up-in-the-soviet-union/)
 and contributes to other outlets. He has strong convictions and shows them unashamedly. You can follow Sten on [Threads](https://www.threads.net/@stenhankewitz)
, [X](https://twitter.com/stenhankewitz)
 and [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/shankewitz/)
. You can also [email him](mailto:sten@estonianworld.com)
.