Soy-free future: breakthrough by British researchers

European researchers have long sought a solution to replace imported soy. Now, British company Germinal and its research partners have achieved a breakthrough: they have developed new pea varieties with high protein content, improved nutritional value, and reduced allergen levels—all without the traditional pea flavor. The project's results could bring the United Kingdom closer to ensuring plant-based protein sources domestically. Supported by Defra and Innovate UK, the Pea Protein Project, with a total cost of £1 million, aims to develop a sustainable protein crop that meets the food industry's expectations while reducing the country's dependency on soy. Instead of the annual 3-4 million tons of soy imports, British agriculture could potentially produce sufficient plant-based protein in the future. The project involves Germinal UK & Ireland, the John Innes Centre, Aberystwyth University's Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS), and the Processors and ...