FrieslandCampina Ingredients, in collaboration with AGT Foods, has launched its first plant-based protein solutions

Photo © iStockphoto.com/Alasdair Thomson

FrieslandCampina Ingredients (Amersfoort, The Netherlands) has entered the plant-based protein market with two powder solutions developed in collaboration with AGT Foods (Regina, SK, Canada), a leading supplier of value-added pulses, staple foods, and ingredients. Known as a leading dairy ingredients provider, FrieslandCampina’s first plant-based offering, the Plantaris range, was co-developed with AGT Foods using pulse ingredients.

The Plantaris range features Plantaris Pea Isolate 85 A and Plantaris Faba Isolate 90 A, both of which were designed to overcome common formulation challenges associated with plant-proteins, such as flavor off-notes. According to a press release, sensory panel tests have shown that products formulated with Plantaris have an overall cleaner taste than other products available on the market. Both ingredients are extracted using a gentle, chemical-free manufacturing process, and specially processed to ensure dispersibility, solubility, stability, and low dusting. Well suited for a wide variety of applications, the Plantaris range is also gluten free and a good source of essential amino acids, such as leucine and branch chain amino acids (BCAA).

“Demand for plant-based products is a trend that is shaping the future of how we eat. As consumers become more health and planet-conscious than ever, demand for plant-based proteins is increasing,” said Herman Ermens, president of FrieslandCampina Ingredients, in a press release. “More people are identifying as flexitarian, and therefore want a wider range of protein options, from plant and dairy sources, to suit their changing needs.

“At FrieslandCampina Ingredients, we know protein. It’s in our DNA. And because of that, we know we have value to add in this space. By partnering with AGT, a leading innovator in plant-based ingredients, we want to help our customers seize the opportunities in this growing market by presenting high-quality dairy and plant-based proteins, side by side. Our partnership opens up huge scope for innovation and the creation of precisely-targeted end-products for today’s consumers.”

“The world of food and nutrition reacts quickly to changing consumer demands. Collaboration and innovation are key elements for unlocking opportunities in the plant-based market,” added Murad Al-Katib, president and CEO of AGT Foods, in a press release. “This partnership was borne out of mutual desire to deliver an effective, sustainable solution for today’s health-conscious and environmentally aware consumers. By combining our knowledge of pulses as a healthy and sustainable source of protein, with FrieslandCampina Ingredients’ market understanding and formulation expertise, Plantaris is the ideal solution for brands looking to develop protein products with staying power as the nutrition market continues to evolve. We’re looking forward to our continued partnership and seeing how, together, we can serve the market better to help brands realise the full potential of plant proteins.”