Amsterdam’s Farmless secures €1M EU grant to validate its land-free protein production method

Amsterdam-based Farmless, a startup focused on producing carbon-negative food ingredients by converting renewable energy and CO2, has secured a €1M grant from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

The grant will support the company in validating its fermentation method for protein production, a process that does not require agricultural land, in an operational environment. 

“Our protein is locally brewed at the Farmless Brewery in Amsterdam, using food grade ingredients and a regionally produced, sustainable feedstock,” says the Dutch company in a LinkedIn post.

What does Farmless offer?

Founded by Adnan Oner, Farmless has developed a fermentation platform that produces protein locally, unaffected by climate and agricultural land constraints. 

Using natural microorganisms and a liquid mix of CO2, hydrogen, nitrogen, and renewable energy, the process requires up to 5,000 times less land than beef production. The resulting protein, containing all essential amino acids, can be used to create meat, dairy, and egg alternatives. 

Farmless aims to reduce reliance on animal products, restore farmland, and combat ecological issues caused by agriculture, such as biodiversity loss and climate change. The company seeks to offer economically viable alternatives to animal-based proteins.

Brief about the ERDF

The ERDF aims to reduce economic, social, and territorial disparities across EU regions by providing funding to public and private bodies. 

For the 2021-2027 period, the fund will support investments focused on making Europe and its regions more competitive, greener, connected, social, and closer to citizens. 

Key areas of investment include innovation, support for small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs), digitisation, low-carbon initiatives, mobility enhancement, inclusive employment, and education.

The ERDF operates under shared management, with local authorities leading projects tailored to regional needs. It is governed by the Common Provisions Regulation.