Nature's Fynd facts for kids
.png) |
|
| Private | |
| Industry | Food |
| Founded | November 13, 2012 |
| Founder |
|
| Headquarters | Chicago, Illinois, US |
|
Key people
|
|
Nature's Fynd is a company that makes food using tiny living things called microbes. They create proteins from a special fungus to make foods that taste like meat or dairy, but aren't. This amazing fungus was first found in hot springs in Yellowstone National Park.
The company started in 2012 in Chicago. It has received funding from several US government groups like NASA and the Department of Agriculture. Many investors, including big names like Bill Gates, have also supported Nature's Fynd.
How Nature's Fynd Started
In 2009, a scientist named Mark Kozubal was studying life in extreme places for NASA. He found a special protein, called "Fy," from a fungus in the hot springs of Yellowstone National Park. NASA was interested in this because they wanted to learn how to find life on other planets.
Mark Kozubal later realized this fungus could be used to make a type of oil for biodiesel. So, in 2012, the company was officially started as Sustainable Bioproducts LLC.
From Fuel to Food
At first, the company wanted to use the "Fy" protein to make a better biofuel. But the founders, Thomas Jonas and Mark Kozubal, soon realized it had even more potential for food. They decided to focus on creating new food products instead.
In 2019, the company received a lot of money from investors to help them grow. They were working on making solid, liquid, or powder products from their special fungus.
In March 2020, the company changed its name to Nature's Fynd. They opened a large factory in Chicago to produce their microbe-based food. This new factory helps them make food more efficiently than traditional methods.
By February 2021, Nature's Fynd announced its first two products: a dairy-free cream cheese and meatless breakfast patties. These products quickly became available for people to try.
Meet the Team
- Thomas Jonas is a co-founder and the main leader (CEO) of Nature's Fynd. He used to be an officer in the French Air Force.
- Mark Kozubal is also a co-founder and the chief science officer. He is a scientist who studies tiny life forms in the Earth and used to do research for NASA.
- Karuna Rawal is the chief marketing officer. She helps tell people about Nature's Fynd products.
The Science Behind "Fy"
The "Fy" protein comes from a fungus called Fusarium str. yellowstonensis. This fungus creates a protein that has all the important building blocks (called amino acids) that humans need. This makes it a "complete protein."
Unlike many other plant-based proteins, "Fy" is a food on its own. It doesn't need to be mixed with many other ingredients. The fungus grows in trays and forms a network of fibers that can be made into food that feels like meat.
This process is very efficient. The fungus grows very quickly, in just a few hours, and doesn't need a lot of resources like land or water. For example, a single baking sheet can produce as much protein as 30 chickens in a year! Nature's Fynd is even working with NASA to see if this "Fy" microbe can be used to make food for astronauts in space.
See also
- Quorn
- List of meat substitutes
- Protein quality
