Millow Commissions world‑first oat‑and‑mycelium factory to craft beef‑like, clean‑label protein
Cooked Millow burger made from binder-free mycelium and Nordic oats, photographed in Gothenburg, Sweden.
Millow, a Gothenburg‑based food‑tech company that turns Nordic oats and mycelium into beef‑like protein, has commissioned its first large‑scale factory after three decades of research and an initial €2.5 million grant from the European Innovation Council, part of a €17.5 million blended‑finance package.
The 2,500 m² site – formerly a LEGO production hall – propels Millow beyond pilot scale. It is believed that once fully outfitted later this year, each production line will deliver up to 500 kg of protein a day. The building also houses one of Europe’s most advanced fermentation and food laboratories, supporting Millow’s research in mycelium science.
Millow notes that the development comes at a time when it introduces a new category: clean‑label, binder‑free protein made from just two core ingredients oats and mycelium – using a patented dry‑state fermentation process.
Every 100 g portion supplies up to 27 g of complete protein, gut‑friendly fibre, and natural vitamins and minerals for only 140 kcal. Free of soy and pea isolates, the product sears like beef, leaves no after‑taste, and feels light on the stomach.
Millow says its proprietary S‑Unit bioreactors cut energy demand to one‑third of conventional fermentation lines. Water use is just 3-4 litres per kilogram – 95 per cent lower than standard mycelium processes – while switching from beef to Millow’s protein can reduce greenhouse‑gas emissions by up to 97 percent. Repurposing the LEGO facility itself avoided roughly 1,400 tonnes of embedded CO₂.
“Critics say plant meat failed on taste and transparency; this factory shows we can solve both at industrial scale,” said Dr Staffan Hillberg, chair.
Professor Mohammad Taherzadeh, scientific founder, added: “Our platform can swap grain substrates overnight, allowing any region to grow its own advanced protein with minimal resources.”
Millow is finalising distribution agreements with leading food brands, retailers, and food‑service distributors aiming to launch multiple products by the end of 2025.
