Louis Dreyfus pursues US plant protein sector with R&D center inauguration
16 Mar 2022 --- With the goal to produce second-generation plant proteins, Louis Dreyfus Company (LDC) inaugurates its advanced R&D center in California, US. LDC will research a variety of proteins and ensure that it has the best commodity pricing and origination.
“It will be the key nodal point for our activities in terms of research and development. We see North America as a leading market for it, so we will move forward in that direction and build a production plant in the region,” Dr. Manoj Kumar, vice president, plant proteins, LDC, tells FoodIngredientsFirst.
LDC will research a variety of proteins and ensure that it has the best commodity pricing and origination. “We started to look at a plant protein platform based on its growth strategy. One of the important components is diversifying revenue streams through more value-added products and enhancing innovation in our product pipeline,” Kumar explains.
To achieve this, in-house researchers will develop the technology needed to produce “next-generation” proteins in a pilot plant inaugurated yesterday in California. LDC will offer the protein solutions as a premix for end-products.
Financial details have not been disclosed.
Brokering plant protein formulations
The LDC plant proteins business facilitates plant protein extraction and F&B application formulation.
LDC’s plant proteins business will partner with food companies that incorporate more sustainable proteins in their products. The company plans to expand the plant protein product lines to Europe and Asia soon.
The facility is a critical foundation for the new plant proteins business, supporting its R&D and commercial program. It will serve as a laboratory and pilot plant to develop products, validate their technical and commercial value and build know-how for future applications.
The company sees it as an opportunity to participate in the rapidly growing plant-based foods market through plant protein extraction and F&B application formulation leveraging their existing origination and industrial capabilities.
The exact proteins being researched remain confidential, notes the company. However, Kumar reports that the company will launch a protein platform featuring multiple proteins.
“We are looking into a wide variety of proteins. We will bring the major proteins premium-to-market this year,” he says.
The company is active in over 100 countries. The company hired developers, researchers and engineers to set up the division.
Next-gen products in the pipeline
The core output of the new R&D center is to develop technology to produce “gen 2” level protein products that surpass the “gen 1” products currently on the market.
“We will be bringing it as a generation two product that would be superior to the protein in the market in terms of functionality and quality,” says Kumar.
LDC states that it will create next-gen plant protein products.
“The manufacturing processes will, of course, be different to some extent than what is currently in place. That’s also what we are and have been working on and will start to work on much more actively in-house (from now onward) to bring those generational aspects to protein products,” he says.
Kumar emphasizes LDC’s commitment to sustainability through farmer engagement, driving supply chain transparency and reducing its carbon footprint.
In 2021, LDC entered a definitive agreement to sell the business and assets of port refiner Imperial Sugar Company to US Sugar, a privately held agri-business. The company purchased Imperial Sugar in 2012 for US$78 million.
Earlier this year, the company joined the ranks of industry giants who pledged to improve global food systems. Along with its anti-deforestation commitment, LDC will eliminate the practice of converting native vegetation to agricultural land from its supply chains by the end of 2025.
By Inga de Jong
