Discussions are taking place which could see India as a global plant protein supplier, building on millennia of plant-based food traditions and culture. The Plant based Foods Industry Association (PBFIA) says the country’s increase in trade opportunities is significant. Meanwhile, Azelis signed an exclusive distribution agreement with Mane in Nordic countries, while Mane Kancor launched its largest-ever manufacturing facility in India.

In brief: Global highlights 
India could become the leading source of ingredients for the world’s rapidly growing plant-based foods market under an ambitious new proposal discussed this week at a summit in New Delhi. The “Plant Protein Cluster” envisages the construction of 12 centers – or “Common Services Centres” – across India to transform the country’s food processing and agriculture industries to supply the global plant-based food market, which is expected to be valued at US$162 billion by 2030. The plan will be discussed at the second Plant based Food Summit organized by the country’s PBFIA. 

Azelis revealed an agreement with Mane to distribute its flavors and taste solutions in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. This mandate expands the existing partnership between Azelis and Mane in France, the UK, Ireland, Benelux and Turkey. With Mane known for its extensive range of flavors and taste solutions, this agreement allows Azelis to broaden its product offering in the food & nutrition market. The partnership also aligns with Azelis’ organic growth strategy with its key partners.

Swiss technology group Bühler completed a processing line for tahini halva, from receiving and handling raw sesame seeds to the finished product, at Silo Foods Industries in Sadat City, Egypt. The food processing complex is an affiliate of the National Service Projects Organisation. The tahini halva line is part of the second stage at Silo Foods Industries. The project is a significant part of Bühler’s presence in the Middle East, Africa and India region.

Québec-based Entosystem inaugurated its 100,000-square-foot site, which now has the largest production capacity in North America. The fully automated industrial system will allow Entosystem to strengthen Québec’s food autonomy by reusing 90,000 metric tons of organic matter each year and producing 5,000 metric tons of high-quality protein-loaded larvae and 15,000 metric tons of approved fertilizer for organic farming. All this through a zero-waste process. The organic materials recovered from farms to grocery stores feed the black soldier fly larvae hatched at Entosystem’s facilities – a patented insect-rearing process. The facility will receive 250 tons of feed daily, consumed by the insects in just six days. once well-fed, these larvae are dried and ground into rich protein used as feed for domestic and farm animals.

Mane Kancor unveiled its manufacturing facility in Karnataka, India. The new beginning was initiated jointly by Mr. Jean Mane, president of the Mane Group and Dr. Geemon Korah, executive director and CEO of Mane Kancor. The facility, which spreads around 50 acres of land, will generate employment in the region and create indirect opportunities for many people, including farmers. The facility is located in Byadgi, which is the main growing belt for high-color varieties of chili, and falls under the Make-In-India program, an initiative of the Indian government. The extraction facility and the technologies incorporated will ensure the best process efficiencies. The facility contains a fluid extraction plant that uses carbon dioxide as an extraction medium. 

Burcon NutraScience Corporation expanded its protein development and innovation business. Burcon’s Winnipeg (Canada) Technical Centre comprises 10,000 square feet of lab and pilot-scale production area utilizing commercial processing equipment for start-to-finish product development. Manufacturers looking to upcycle by-products, develop end-to-end processes, or validate and scale up a process can leverage the company’s infrastructure and food processing knowledge.  

In brief: Launches
Flavorchem developed “The Coffeehouse Collection,” which is touted to provide innovative flavor offerings at a time when coffee consumption is at an all-time high. The collection features signature flavors that can be optimized for various food and drink applications: Cake Batter, Chocolate Whiskey, London Fog, Raspberry Rose, and Strawberries & Cream. All flavors are kosher, non-GMO, allergen-free, vegan and can be labeled as “natural” on an ingredient statement.

Merijn van Berlo and Maarten Bezem, chefs of Choux in Amsterdam, developed powerful natural flavor enhancers under the name 621 Ferments. Born from a shared passion for good food and sustainability, they have found a way to combat food waste while giving dishes an umami boost. After more than three years of searching for the perfect taste balance and the right process, the flavors Mushroom (all vegetable) and Beef (Gasconne beef) are now available. In addition, they are also developing a variant with black garlic and one of Dutch shrimps that will follow later this year.

In brief: Acquisitions
Wicked Kitchen acquired Current Foods, an alt-protein start-up that provides plant-based seafood to foodservice and fine dining locations in the US and Europe. Current Foods is the second acquisition by Wicked Kitchen within a year in a move that company CEO Pete Speranza says is accretive to Wicked Kitchen’s portfolio. Last year, Wicked Kitchen acquired Good Catch, a plant-based seafood CPG brand, extending the company’s multi-category retail strategy into the alternative seafood market.

In brief: Other highlights
Analysts from Copa and Cogeca’s Cereals and Oilseeds and Protein Crops Working Parties predict a general increase in the EU’s cereals, oilseeds and protein crop production in 2023, despite an anticipated serious decrease of production in Spain. The EU-27 cereal production should reach 277 million metric tons (+4.6% compared to the 2022 harvest). Despite a reduction of the area sown in 2023 (-3,8%), the expected high yields for cereals should ensure a better outcome than that of 2022. This trend is driven partly by the higher yields expected for grain maize, with a production that should reach 62 million metric tons (+21.7% compared to 2022). Production was severely affected last year in some Eastern member states. Spain will be severely affected by the ongoing drought, with its overall grain production being reduced by nearly 9 million tons. Overall, the 2023 harvest should be higher than that of 2022, but will still be a little below the grain production average of the last five years.

Red meat exporters from the UK have met with key buyers from Japan to explore further trade opportunities. Five Japanese importers headed to the UK this week to join the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board for a five-day mission to learn more about sustainable beef, lamb and pork production. The mission – the first  from Asia since the pandemic – included several farm visits in the North of England and a tour of an abattoir and meat processing site.