Baku, Azerbaijan, May 13. The European
Investment Bank (EIB) has signed a 20 million euro loan agreement
with Heura Foods, a Barcelona-based start-up specializing in
plant-based food innovation, Trend reports.
According to the bank, the financing will support the company’s
research, development, and commercialization of sustainable,
high-protein alternatives to meat, cheese, and other animal
products.
Heura plans to use the funds to advance its R&D program,
focusing on legume-based proteins and healthy fats to replace
saturated fats and cholesterol in processed foods. The investment
will also help scale production by financing new equipment for the
company’s laboratories and its manufacturing partners in Spain.
The EIB loan is backed by InvestEU, the European Union’s
flagship program aimed at mobilizing over 372 billion euros in
additional public and private investment between 2021 and 2027.
The initiative aligns with the EU’s goals of promoting
sustainable food systems and strengthening Europe’s bioeconomy
sector.