How a strategic project yielded a dozen new products.

Creating the world’s most nutritious, functional and sustainable protein ingredients

The Opportunity

Food brands need to work with ingredients to develop products with optimal nutrition, taste and texture at an attractive price. In the broad range of products that contain plant-based protein, the big variable is the source of protein (lentil, fava, etc.) and the way in which it is extracted. Traditional extraction and isolation processes typically require a large amount of water and sometimes chemical inputs, which can potentially remain in the finished product. Protein Powered Farms has developed a method that uses 3-4 times less water and eliminates the use of chemicals.

The Challenge

The process of converting a plant protein source like the faba bean into an isolated protein ingredient can vary dramatically. Just like boiling an egg creates a very different end result than frying one, slight differences in the protein isolation process can create protein ingredients with different nutritional and functional properties. Protein Powered Farms knew their method could use less resources, but they needed to validate that it could also produce a range of protein ingredients that would meet the needs of food manufacturers.

NPC’s Solution

NPC provided Plant Powered Proteins with $250,000 through the Proof of Concept Program to test their protein extraction process at a larger scale to validate that it could meet commercial needs. The project was a remarkable success, boasting no less than a dozen new products as a result. The company confirmed the technology’s ability to provide the taste, nutrition, functionality and price point required by the food manufacturers, and that the process did not require additional chemical inputs. Protein Powered Farms has already successfully commercialized four products, is set to commercialize two more, and expects to take another six products to market in the next 6-12 months.