Protein Transition

SmaakPark BV, based in Ede, has received a substantial contribution towards the realisation of its Fermentation Lab from the Shared Pilot Facilities Fund, which represents a consortium of interested parties. The lab will span an area of approximately 110 square meters, not including the accompanying greenhouse complex and breeding ponds, and will be listed as part of the Shared Facility Finder (SFF). The Fermentation Lab will serve as an essential resource, accessible to all stakeholders through the SFF. This initiative is expected to promote innovation and facilitate research in the food industry by promoting collaboration and shared usage of facilities.

The Co-fresh pilot case assembled a coalition that focuses on creating a competitive European value chain for fava beans that uses local sources and reduces carbon footprint. We expect to have the value chain quantified and an agreement on shared value/revenue distribution in place by October 2023.

This initiative seeks to improve the economic viability of locally produced crops in the Netherlands by bringing together protein crop farmers, creating critical mass and increasing valuation by the end users. This approach helps to organise a better value chain position for the farmers by, for instance, exploring the cooperative selling of their product as well as equipment sharing. This would result in a first national cooperation of growers of leguminous crops moving from niche to critical mass.

Investment in new facilities is badly needed to accompany the accelerating protein transition in the longer term. However, short-term solutions are also needed. Luckily existing facilities can be retrofitted for various alternative, plant protein applications. A perfect opportunity for existing companies looking to venture into this rapidly growing market. Foodvalley NL offers the opportunity to quickly check whether your current production space, machine or line can be made suitable for the processing of raw materials, the production or packaging of plant-based products. This way, you help the protein transition and create new business opportunities.

In 2022 the Bean Deal agreement for protein rich crops, in which 56 Dutch stakeholders, including regional and national governments, have committed to far-reaching objectives related to the uptake of protein rich crops for human consumption. The Bean Deal (also known as the Green Deal) is also a steppingstone for future initiatives (Co-fresh, Dutch Protein Farmers). This initiative continues into 2023 and beyond.

Like a Pro aims at mainstreaming alternative proteins, making them accessible, available, and acceptable to everyone and everywhere.