Burcon NutraScience, a functional, renewable plant proteins provider, has completed the construction of its new semi-works Peazazz pea protein manufacturing facility in Winnipeg, Canada.
The semi-works plant, which features commercial-scale equipment, will cater to the food and beverage manufacturers seeking to conduct full-scale, real-world market evaluations of Peazazz in their consumer products. These evaluations typically include consumer testing, market acceptance and shelf life evaluation.
The company expects to begin production of Peazazz for shipment following the commissioning phase where the company's engineers will optimize the new facility.
Shipments will be made under the material transfer agreements (MTAs) it recently announced with major food and beverage manufacturers, suppliers, and potential industry production and sales partners.
Peazazz, which is derived from field peas, is ideal for use in a variety of food, beverage and nutritional products including sports nutrition beverages, citrus-based drinks, fruit-flavored beverages, fruit juice blends, fortified waters, dairy alternative products and powdered beverage mixes. It can fortify snacks, cereals and diet products, as well as gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan food products.
Burcon president and COO Johann F. Tergesen said that this marks a significant advancement in the commercialization of Peazazz.
"We have already established the unique functional and nutritional attributes of Peazazz produced at our existing pilot-scale plant. With this new semi-works plant we will now be able to demonstrate that Peazazz can be produced at scale using commercial-scale equipment."
"Our ability to produce Peazazz in multiple, non-consecutive batches will demonstrate how this special protein can be reliably and economically produced," Tergesen added.
Burcon plans to introduce Peazazz at the Institute of Food Technologists Annual Meeting and Food Expo scheduled to be held in Chicago, Illinois from 13 - 1 6 July 2013.
Burcon NutraScience is involved in nutrition, health and wellness in the field of functional plant proteins. The company has developed a portfolio of composition, application, and process patents originating from a core protein extraction and purification technology.
