Plant-derived proteins company Roquette says that it has strengthened its position in the development of plant-based proteins by creating a dedicated research programme called Proteov.
This, said the company, is in response to the challenges of global population growth, which will see the earth inhabited by more than 9 billion people by 2050, and the criticality of plant-based raw materials in feeding them.
Roquette has been processing plant-based raw materials for over 75 years during which it claims it has played a significant role in the development of their value and effectiveness.
The Proteov research programme is dedicated to the development of high-value nutritional and functional protein solutions. Coordinated by Roquette’s Research and Development Centre in Lestrem, northern France, the company says that the programme provides it with a major new resource.
This will, said the company, rapidly complement and reinforce Roquette’s current plant-derived protein offer in the nutrition and health fields.
“The Proteov programme aims to provide our customers with a range of plant-derived proteins that both meet expectations in terms of nutritional and functional benefits but also provide the more environmentally-friendly solutions obtainable with alternatives to animal protein,” said Anne Cortier, director of the Nutrition and Health Programmes.
“The research programme has the financial, technical and human resources to match Roquette Group’s ambitions, i e multi-disciplinary teams, laboratories, pilot production areas, application centres and pre-industrial units. In addition, Proteov fits into the process of open innovation. The objective is to pool skills and expertise in order to speed up the marketing of new products.”
The initial work enabled the Proteov teams to deepen skills in protein characterisation from analytical, sensory, nutritional and functional standpoints. Concrete results are about to emerge with the launch in the coming weeks of new nutritional solutions.
“With an average annual growth of 5% in volume terms over the last three years, the plant-based protein market has to satisfy ever-increasing consumer demand,” said Bruno Gehin, head of the Proteov Programme.
“The ability to meet this demand depends on new plant-derived sources delivering reliable, sustainable and affordable alternatives to animal proteins or soybeans. Consumers want products that are healthy and sustainable and that at the same time offer an attractive taste and texture. The Proteov programme will strengthen the pea-based biorefinery industry, in which Roquette is a global leader.”
Featuring a production capacity potential of over 600,000 tons of protein, Roquette says that it has developed over 50 years a real expertise in the field of plant-based proteins, owning many patents. Its exceptional range of products and protein solutions make it one of the major players in the plant-derived proteins market.
