Fermented Palm Oil Alternatives

Palm oil is in tons of consumer goods and meeting global demand through conventional production comes at a cost, but NoPalm Ingredients specializes in upcycling and fermenting agri-food side streams into oils and fats that function as a viable palm oil alternative. The Dutch startup is in the running for the 2026 Curt Bergfors Food Planet Prize as a finalist, thanks to its innovative process that claims a 90% reduction in carbon emissions and 99% less land use compared to conventional fats. The Prize Committee recognized NoPalm as “an elegant, systems-aware solution that could quietly decarbonize supply chains and reduce pressure on ecosystems vulnerable to climate extremes.”

NoPalm and three other finalists will convene in Båstad, Sweden, in early June, and the world’s largest environmental prize will see $1.5 million USD awarded to the winner and $150,000 USD to each finalist.