Press Release: Novel Food tasting by ÄIO!
On May 21, 2025, ÄIO had the honor of co-hosting a landmark event that brought the future of food closer to today. As an official side event of Latitude59, the gathering was co-organized with Enterprise Estonia, Estonian Research Council, and TalTech, and welcomed 120 participants from across the food industry, academia, startups, and government.
Full Press Release_Novel Food tasting by ÄIO!
Food Innovation Estonia event at Fotografiska 21.05.2025.
How common is the opportunity to taste novel foods?
At the center of the event: a tasting session of ÄIO’s and enifer‘s fermentation-based novel food ingredients, a rare and tightly regulated experience. This was only the fourth time such a tasting has been held globally, and ÄIO’s second time organizing it.
What was for tasting?
Participants could try:
- ÄIO’s RedOil and Encapsulated oil
- MOLE sauce that had ÄIO’s Encapsulated oil as ingredient. Recipe created and food prepared by ÄIO’s top-chef Hiro Takeda
- enifer’s PEKILO®
- Chocolate cake that contained enifer’s PEKILO®
“We showed that Estonia is capable of creating new food technology products that are tasty, healthy, and better for the environment, and that have the potential to reach global markets. Public dialogue is essential to explain why we need to move toward more innovative food solutions,” said Petri-Jaan Lahtvee, Co-Founder of ÄIO and Professor at TalTech.
Petri-Jaan Lahtvee introducing ÄIO products.
“For novel food companies, one of the main hurdles is navigating regulation. It’s clear we need faster pathways, not looser safety, but smarter systems that encourage bold, evidence-based innovation.”
said Anna Handschuch, Head of Public Affairs, Future Affairs Consulting.
Anna Handschuch talking about regulation navigation.
“We need more initiatives where the science meets the spoon. Connecting innovators, regulators, and industry in one room is how we make real progress.” said Mika Kukkurainen, Panel Moderator and partner, Nordic FoodTech VC. Nordic FoodTech VC is one of ÄIO’s investors.
Mika Kukkurainen leading the panel discussion about food innovation.
We believe that fermentation-based oils and fats, made from side-streams instead of tropical crops or animal products, will play a key role in the sustainable food systems of the future.
At ÄIO, we’re not just building better ingredients. We’re building the future of food. One step, and one tasting, at a time.
Participants tasting novel foods by ÄIO and enifer.
ÄIO and enifer foods for novel food tasting.
Event participants matchmaking – industries, scientists, food enthusiasts.
Full Press Release_Novel Food tasting by ÄIO!
For more information (interviews, pictures, story of ÄIO), please contact:
Mariane Barrier
mariane (at) aio.bio
Photos by Sven Začek