Key facts
- Greek biotechnologist Angeliki Triantafyllou has won the European Inventor Award 2026.
- Triantafyllou was a co-founder of Oatly and led its research for over two decades.
- Her patented enzymatic method significantly improved oat drinks' taste, color, texture, and nutritional value.
- She is now developing a new technology for pea milk that uses the whole pea to preserve its nutrients.
- Triantafyllou advocates for plant-based foods with high nutritional value and a smaller environmental footprint.
Greek biotechnologist Angeliki Triantafyllou, a key figure behind the success of oat milk producer Oatly, is now pioneering advancements in pea milk. Triantafyllou, who won the European Inventor Award 2026 in the 'Industry' category, explained to Euronews that her focus is on developing next-generation foods that offer high nutritional value and a reduced environmental impact.
For over 20 years, Triantafyllou led research at Oatly, where her patented enzymatic method significantly enhanced the taste, color, texture, and nutritional content of oat drinks, transforming them from a niche product into a global market phenomenon. Her current work centers on a novel technology for pea milk that utilizes the entire pea, thereby preserving all its inherent nutrients. This approach contrasts with current methods that often rely on isolated proteins.
Triantafyllou believes the future of plant-based foods lies not in chasing trends but in creating products with genuine nutritional benefits and sustainability. She argues that plant-based alternatives are crucial for feeding a growing global population, as animal agriculture is resource-intensive and contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions. Peas, she notes, are a source of high-quality protein, while oats provide beneficial beta-glucans and fiber.