Food production leaves behind side-streams such as apple pomace, tomato residues, brewers' spent grain and bean hulls, and Green Spot's website cites 1.05 billion tonnes of food wasted worldwide in 2022. Green Spot Technologies, founded near Toulouse by Ninna Granucci, grows microorganisms on these leftovers in solid-state fermentation to turn them into food ingredients.
The European Innovation Council granted €2,474,937 towards a €3.54 million project that built an industrial demonstration plant producing 100 tonnes a year. Green Spot now states more than 1,000 tonnes of capacity at a site in Carpentras, and sells Féverolat, a fermented fava bean ingredient for bakery and chocolate. Its latest accounts in the French company register, for 2024, record revenue of zero and a net loss of €432,000.
Company file
- Legal entity
- Green Spot Technologies SAS, SIREN 842237786, Toulouse, France
- Registered
- August 2018
- Founder
- Ninna Granucci
- Technology
- Solid-state fermentation of food side-streams; 6 patents
- Products
- Féverolat (fava bean), MILATEA; earlier Ferment'Up flours
- Production
- Carpentras, 1,000+ tonnes capacity stated
- EIC project
- Fl'Our Planet, 1 Jul 2022 to 31 Dec 2024
- EIC funding
- Blended finance
Where Green Spot Stands Today
Green Spot's portfolio page now features Féverolat, made by fermenting fava bean hulls, "long overlooked", into fillings, chips, powders and spreads for pastry and bakery, and shows the logos of Syba and Graine de Choc. Its about page names MILATEA as its ingredient line and describes commercial staff with backgrounds in cosmetics, packaging and food. Its fermentation page lists a site in Carpentras with more than 1,000 tonnes of capacity, ISO 22000 certification in progress, six patents and 20 documented know-hows, and a collaboration with the Conesa group.
The Technology: Solid-State Fermentation
In solid-state fermentation, fungi or bacteria grow on moist solid material rather than in liquid tanks. Green Spot selects the side-stream and the microorganisms to produce ingredients with specific functions, such as replacing gluten, adding texture to meat analogues or replacing cocoa. The CORDIS report says the process reached technology readiness level 8 after four years of development.
"We ferment what others leave behind."
Green Spot Technologies, portfolio pageWhat the EIC Project Promised, and What CORDIS Shows
Fl'Our Planet set out to turn food production side-streams into "multifunctional ingredients by an innovative fermentation process". CORDIS reports an industrial demonstration plant running at 100 tonnes a year, a production management system validated after six months of operation, and products including Ferment'Up Apple and Tomato for gluten-free foods, Ferment'Up Spent Grain for vegan foods, and cocoa-alternative ingredients, with "multiple food companies" running consumer trials. It names no customers and reports no sales.
- An industrial demo plantDelivered100 tonnes a year.
- A process at industrial maturityDeliveredTRL 8 reported.
- Ingredients in customer trialsDeliveredSeveral products; trials with food firms.
- SalesNot shownZero revenue recorded for 2024.
What Has Happened Since the Award
The Money
The award was blended finance. Green Spot's website says it is co-funded by the EU and lists France 2030, EIT Food, the Earthshot Prize and the Kraft Heinz Innovation Challenge among its recognitions, but names no equity investors there. In November 2025 Green Spot announced €5 million of equity and bank loans, led by the investment company Team for the Planet with the EIC, EIT Food and business angels, to raise capacity at its Carpentras plant from 100 to 1,000 tonnes a year and launch Milatea, a range of fermented cocoa-alternative ingredients for bakers and chocolatiers. How much of the round came from the EIC is not stated. Its filed 2024 accounts show revenue of zero and a net loss of €432,318; 2025 figures are not yet in the register data.
What cannot be checked
Whether Syba, Graine de Choc or other companies are paying customers, how much of the Carpentras capacity is used, whether the EIC took equity, and Green Spot's 2025 revenue are not public.
Why Europe Should Care
Turning food industry leftovers into ingredients fits the EU's circular economy goals, and a cocoa alternative made from bean hulls gives bakers and chocolate makers another option. Green Spot has the plant and the products; the register shows it had not yet turned them into revenue in 2024.
What the project promised
Multifunctional food ingredients made by fermenting food production side-streams at industrial scale.
What the record shows
A 100-tonne demo plant, a TRL 8 process, new products and a larger site; no revenue in 2024.
The Verdict
Technically delivered, commercially unproven
Fl'Our Planet built what it promised: a working plant and ingredients food companies were willing to test. The product focus has since moved from fruit and grain flours to a fava bean cocoa alternative. What the record lacks is evidence of sales, and the 2025 accounts will be the first real test.
Green Spot Technologies has not been asked for comment for this article. It is based entirely on company statements, EU project data and the French company register, linked throughout.
