The Oater develops a compact machine for hyper-local fresh oat milk production to reduce waste and emissions.

Project Information

The Oater

Grant agreement ID: 101113979

DOI

10.3030/101113979

Project closed

EC signature date 5 June 2023

Start date 1 July 2023

End date 31 December 2023

Funded under

• European innovation ecosystems

Total cost

No data

EU contribution

€ 75 000,00

Coordinated by

OIY SOLUTIONS GMBH
Germany

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - The Oater (The Oater develops a compact machine for hyper-local fresh oat milk production to reduce waste and emissions.)

Reporting period: 2023-07-01 to 2023-12-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The food industry faces important issues: the need for sustainable, local food production and the demand for new and exciting consumer experiences. Our project addresses these challenges by focusing on reducing waste and transportation emissions, which are big problems in how food is currently delivered from producers to consumers.

Our idea is to use micro factories to produce oat milk right where it will be sold and consumed. This approach cuts down on the need to transport products over long distances, which saves energy and reduces emissions. It also allows customers to experience their oat milk being made and taste the freshness of our product.

We plan to provide a full service with our oat milk as a service concept. We will supply the raw materials and the appliances, with which businesses can make fresh oat milk on their premises. This transparency lets customers know exactly what's going into their drink, ensuring it's healthy and sustainable.

The value of our project is clear from our Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) study. It shows that making oat milk with our micro factories creates 57% less emissions than other methods and over 90% less than making cow's milk. Our goal is to help save 1 billion kg of CO2 by 2030.

Starting with oat milk, we want to expand to other plant-based products that are good for health and digestion. We aim to make these products locally where they are sold, supporting a healthier environment and community.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

During the project, our team focused on product development with an emphasis on refining both the process and the hardware of our oat milk micro factories. We successfully completed pilot testing with our first functional machines in four cafes, which provided valuable insights. This led to the kick-off of the development of a custom pcb and enhancement of our machine safety through additional sensors and improved the overall hygiene. We achieved this by rigorously testing all components, ensuring they met stringent hygiene regulations, and choosing superior components when necessary.

In terms of technical advancement, we designed new mechanical parts, applied surface coatings to further improve hygiene and improved our component list overall. We also introduced a user-friendly interface, which received positive feedback during the pilot phase, signifying an advancement in ease of use and customer satisfaction.

From a scientific standpoint, our newly hired PhD-level expert conducted extensive microbiological testing. This resulted in the development of an optimized cleaning cycle, the selection of a more effective detergent, and precise calibration of temperatures and timings for the cycle. We explored a variety of proteins and flours to perfect our product and initiated operations and quality control for the mixing and packaging of raw ingredients with a fulfillment partner and extended the shelf life.

In terms of human resources and leadership, we not only improved our team's leadership skills but also expanded our staff to up to 15 members, hiring three full-time employees and several interns and working students throughout the project duration. Our commitment to fostering diversity and empowering women in the tech industry was demonstrated through leadership mentoring for females and collaboration with two female-owned cafes during our testing phase.
In conclusion, our project has made substantial technical and scientific progress, setting a solid foundation for further innovation and advancement in sustainable food production technology and preparing the road to market entry. The outcomes of this action have not only reinforced our technical capabilities but also positioned us to make a meaningful impact on the industry and environment.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

Our project represents a breakthrough in sustainable food technology, introducing an automated oat milk machine that not only enables on-site production but also has the potential for a wide range of food products. Our Life Cycle Assessment demonstrates a 57% reduction in emissions compared to traditional methods, affirming our commitment to sustainability.

We're preparing to launch our first machines in April 2024, with over 100 customers already on our waitlist. Addressing challenges such as hygiene, oat milk quality, and ingredient variability is ongoing, with strategic partnerships with cafe chains, canteens, office spaces, and maintenance service providers crucial to our strategy.

Scaling our innovative technology requires significant financial and innovative input, including securing further grants and investments to prefinance our initial machines, essential for reaching profitability by 2025. We've filed a patent for our technology, with additional patent applications in preparation.

Launching initially in Germany, we aim to expand to the Benelux countries, Spain, and the UK, while also developing our next product, ‘The Oater Retail’. Our project is poised to redefine food technology, offering a solution that meets modern demands for sustainability, freshness, and transparency.

The Oater Team

Founding Team of The Oater

Sarah Nesti (CEO) during Pilot Phase in Café

The Oater machine

Lisa and Sarah Nesti, sisters and Co-Founders of The Oater

Team Process with Fermentation Specialist Ricarda Kellermann

Team Engineering