Australia: Plant protein investment hopes to unlock the key to the market

Finding a way to optimise the opportunities for the Australian pulse sector in the growing human plant protein market is the catalysts for a new $13.6 million dollar national project spearheaded by the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) and the Victorian government. The project, announced last week, will look to capitalise on growing demand both domestically and internationally for plant protein. A number of pulses grown in Australia, such as faba beans, lupins, field peas and lentils have some potential in the plant protein space, however further research is required to learn more about the market wants and what species are best suited. The four year project, to be based at Ag Vic's Horsham SmartFarm, will look at a range of research pathways to help find the proteins consumers are looking for. Of the $13.6 million $8.8 million is from the GRDC, $2.4m from the Victorian government and $2.4m from industry collaborators. It has won support from industry figures. ...