The Kona Bar leverages Ponova oil from climate-resilient Pongamia trees in Hawaii

02 Mar 2023 --- Aloha, a plant-based protein brand, has unveiled “The Kona Bar,” a snack bar product marketed as supporting sustainable agriculture in Hawaii. The bar’s responsibly-sourced ingredients include 100% Kona Coffee and 100% Hawaii-grown macadamia nuts. It is tipped as the first commercial launch of Ponova oil in a food product. The sustainable plant-based oil is made from the beans of ultra-regenerative, climate-resilient Pongamia trees on Oʻahu, Hawaii. 

Aside from being high in protein, low in sugar and ethically sourced using clean ingredients, The Kona Bar is Non-GMO Project Verified and made without gluten, dairy, soy and sugar alcohols. 

“The launch of the Kona Bar underscores our commitment to supporting sustainable farming and agricultural practices, with Hawaii as a prime example of what the future of farming and land stewardship should look like,” says Brad Charron, CEO of Aloha. 

Ponova: A plant-based oil
The Ponova oil in the Kona Bar, crafted by food and agriculture company Terviva, is touted as a “game-changer” in plant-based oils and regenerative farming. 

Ponova oil is made by expeller pressing and lightly refining the beans of pongamia trees in a process similar to making olive oil.Ponova oil is made by expeller pressing and lightly refining the beans of pongamia trees in a process similar to making olive oil. Pongamia dubbed a “climate-resilient super-tree” that revitalizes the land and communities where it’s grown. 

Historically used for reforestation in Asia, it sequesters carbon while improving soil health and water quality. Terviva harvests and transforms Pongamia beans from tree to plate into a healthy food ingredient called Ponova. 

“Ponova oil is a delicious, premium oil containing Omega 9s that is climate-friendly and helps convert distressed farmland into sustainable, productive acreage,” adds Naveen Sikka, CEO of Terviva. 

Planet-friendly cultivation methods 
In addition to the Ponova oil sourced from Terviva’s Oʻahu farm, the Kona Bar features macadamia nuts from Hamakua Nut Company and Kona Coffee from Greenwell Farms, both located on the island of Hawaii. 

Hamakua Nut Company uses environmentally friendly cultivation practices, without potentially harmful insecticides, fungicides or fossil fuels. 

To dry their nuts, the company converts the energy of clean-burning macadamia nut shells into steam. The farm also generates nearly all electricity via solar and biomass energy. 

Greenwell Farms is one of the oldest Kona Coffee farms in Hawaii. Established in 1850, this award-winning, fifth-generation family-owned farm handles every aspect of coffee making from farm to cup, including harvesting and processing to roasting and shipping. 

Cream of the crop?
Pongamia trees are gaining industry interest as innovation around plant-based proteins, oils and fuels remains front and center, in light of shifting consumer mentalities towards clean health and sustainability.

In May 2021, Terviva raised US$54 million in equity capital to commercialize its “golden-colored, buttery” culinary oil and highly soluble plant protein made from pongamia seeds. 

The finance came as the agri-food player began a collaboration with Danone to develop new food products that utilize Pongamia oil and plant protein.

In 2019, Terviva raised an additional US$20 million in its first close of its Series D. A total of US$40 million will be allocated towards growing infrastructure and developing the functional properties of its commercialized trees, which are said to produce as much as ten times the beans per acre as soy.

Edited by Elizabeth Green