Protein Industries Canada ramps up lupin production for plant-based product development

With a high protein seed content and unique oil and starch composition, lupin is an emerging crop with significant growth potential in the plant-based food and beverage sector, said Protein Industries Canada. 

"Lupin is an exciting new crop for Canada that will bring new value to Canada’s plant-based food and ingredient ecosystem, benefiting the entire value chain, from farmers to end consumers,"​ said CEO of Protein Industries Canada Bill Greuel.

Lupin Platform Inc., Hensall Co-op, plant-based food manufacturer Lumi Foods (formerly Blue Heron Creamery), and PURIS have partnered to establish an integrated ecosystem to increase the production and processing of lupin in Canada. The $7.3 million project will develop a lupin supply and value chain, from crop production through to the development and manufacturing of functional ingredients and products.

Hensall Co-op, one of Canada’s largest farmer co-operatives, will oversee agronomic research and testing for the lupin crop, using in-house equipment and processing expertise to develop effective and scalable cleaning, dehulling and milling technologies suitable for mass commercialization at the processing level. 

The processed lupin ingredients will then be used by Lumi Foods and PURIS in new product development for consumers across North America. 

“Lupin has a unique composition that makes it an exciting source for plant-based protein ingredients. It also fixes nitrogen to the soil and is naturally disease resistant, which reduces the need for inputs, reducing emissions for sustainable farming practice and benefiting Canadian farmers that add it to their rotation,"​ said Lupin Platform Inc. CEO Tristan Choi. 

"This opportunity to further develop our range of cultured plant-based cheeses and dairy alternatives using this high-protein, sustainable crop, and to work collaboratively with other companies with similar values as concerns with environmental impact and evolving plant-based options for the consumer, is tremendously exciting. We are very much looking forward to bringing to market some of our new lupin-based cheeses early in the new year,"​ added Lumi Foods CEO Karen McAthy.