EU boosts plant-based sector with bio-based solvent grant for oil and protein extraction

26 May 2021 --- Pennakem Europa, the developer of EcoXtract, a bio-based solvent for the extraction of oils, proteins and natural ingredients, has been awarded an EU grant to develop EcoXtract for the global oilseeds processing sector. 

This will provide a safe and bio-based option for all involved in processing oil-rich seeds such as soybean, rapeseed, sunflower and the seeds from a large number of minor crops such as borage, hemp and evening primrose.

The renewable upcycling technology is a 100 percent bio-based solvent made from crop by-product. Solvent-based extraction of vegetable oil is an essential step for many plant-based products, especially for vegetable oil and protein, notes Pennakem Europa.

The €2.8 million (US$3.4 million) grant is awarded by the European Commission’s European Innovation Council under the Horizon 2020 Fast Track to Innovation program. 

The EU grant will enable the bio-based solvent EcoXtract to be developed for soybeans, rapeseed and other oilseeds important in plant-based processing.“The grant enables us to combine the technologies, skills and ambitions of five partners in four European countries,” says Laurence Jacques, managing director at Pennakem Europa.

“This allows us to accelerate our technical development and access pioneering markets at the same time to develop a more reliable, healthier and more eco-conscious oil extraction sector for the food and feed industry.”

Five partners to promote plant-based
This achievement is the result of a proposal submitted by a consortium of five partners. All are private-for-profit entities established within the EU. Along with Pennakem Europa (France), an affiliate of Minafin Group, the consortium comprises Vivaorganic (Cloppenburg, Germany), De Wit Speciality Oils (De Waal, the Netherlands), New Holland Extraction (New Holland, UK) and Donal Murphy-Bokern (Lohne, Germany). The total project investment is almost €4 million (US$4.9 million).

“Consumers’ expectations have dramatically changed over the last decades. Food and other products of nature must be truly natural,” says Gertjan De Wit, director at De Wit Speciality Oils. 

“As the oil industry is one important player of the food industry, it appears essential to us to be part of this project to deliver a safer and healthier solution to the consumer.”

Pennakem and New Holland Extractions, in particular, are focused on the core engineering challenge of upscaling the use of this new solvent. Donal Murphy-Bokern provides support in project management, communications, assessment of environmental and agricultural impacts and liaison with policy agencies. Parallel to this, Vivaorganic and De Wit will lead in the development of pioneering value chains in soybean processing and niche specialty oils.  Vivaorganic is also coordinating the project.

“All four industrial partners are new to the European Union Framework Program,” says Amos Ramsauer from Vivaorganic.   

“The European Commission is investing in us to make a significant contribution to the sustainable development of the oil- and protein-based sectors using a European invention and know-how. We are fully committed to giving Europe a good return on this investment, in Europe and worldwide.” 

Investment in plant-based 
Oils for plant-based solutions are on the rise. Terviva recently raised US$54 million in equity capital to commercialize its “golden-colored, buttery” culinary oil and highly soluble plant protein made from pongamia seeds, a regenerative crop. 

While Europe and North America have been the conventional markets for plant-based, recent moves evidence the plant-based revolution is spreading to Asia, with Roquette recently highlighting that China is undergoing a plant-based boom. 

Edited by Missy Green

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