According to the company their agroscience expertise and creative business model are revolutionizing soy cultivation and commercialization to deliver a portfolio of tastier, non-GMO soy with a higher nutritional profile.

Until now, non-GMO soy crops cultivated for ideal traits have been prone to yield inconsistencies and have exposed farmers to seasonal failures beyond their control. These problems have been further compounded by limitations in seed variety, agricultural know-how and technological resources to ensure crop performance. In addition, the lack of dialog among the consumers – food companies – and their suppliers – traders, farmers and seed companies, has impeded progress along the supply chain.

“Our bred soybean lines contain nearly 58% protein, which is 50% higher than the industry standard,” said Itay Dana, Marketing Director for Equinom. “Traditional breeding practices have focused mostly on high yield, but specialty traits are now the in-demand trend for food companies.”

“Despite the buzz surrounding high functionality of non-GMO soy and other legumes, grains and seeds, non-GMO soy is still in its infancy, making up only 7% of the total soy market,” said Dana.

Equinom believes that ensuring delicious flavour and appealing texture are two primary challenges in creating meat alternative products with soy protein.

“There is a pronounced gap between customer-demanded organoleptic qualities that produce the tasty, appealing, nutritious meat-alternative products that are taking over the market, and the low-value varieties and qualities currently produced,” said Sigal Meirovitch, PhD, Head of Protein Development for Equinom. “Consumers are seeking slaughter-free options but not at the expense of taste and texture."

Equinom describes its computerized breeding technology as a game changer for food companies, driving market momentum with high-protein, tasty, plant-based products.
The company’s proprietary algorithm and breeding techniques are said to map out precise genomic crop characteristics to be rendered into highly desirable attributes. The system breeds for protein load, taste, texture and nutritional composition targeted to priority soy applications, including soymilk, tofu, fermented natto, miso and soy protein isolates. Crops are produced within a strictly non-GMO environment, with no gene editing or manipulation.