GERMANY – Bühler AG and DIL (Deutsches Institut für Lebensmitteltechnik e. V.) have inaugurated a new technology center in Germany to support further development of extruded meat substitutes.  

Dubbed the Technology Center Proteins of the Future, the new facility in Quakenbrück, Germany, provides state-of-the-art research, test, and production infrastructure for the development of healthy, sustainable-protein food products.   

A statement from both companies revealed that the center is now fully operational and ready to receive requests from customers.   

“The center with its advanced technological setup and expert teams assists our customers in the food industry as well as start-ups to fully realize the potential of new plant-based proteins and develop new healthy and environmentally friendly food products for a growing market,” says Johannes Wick, CEO Grains & Food at Bühler Group.  

 Bühler and DIL’s technology center could not be timelier as the market for alternative proteins has been rapidly expanding thanks to its superior health and sustainability profiles.  

According to a report by Research and Markets, the global alternative proteins market is expected to reach $27.05 billion by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 11.2% during the forecast period of 2020 to 2027.  

New product launches and increasing inclination towards a vegan diet have been supporting this market’s growth, according to the market research firm.  

The high cost of alternative proteins and the increasing soy-free and gluten-free trend have however been posing challenges in this market, making investment in research and development necessary.  

Technology Center Proteins of the Future addresses this gap by providing support to alternative meat companies throughout the entire process from prototyping new products and upscaling of production processes to contract manufacturing for initial market phases and comprehensive consultancy services.   

 Its quick-to-market approach minimizes risk as customers don’t need to invest in equipment before a viable market penetration is reached.   

This gives it an edge over other technology centers in the alternative animal protein industry. 

“The launch of the Technology Center Proteins of the Future is an important part of our focus on environmentally friendly food production for a growing world population and supports our efforts to achieve our sustainability goals,” says Stefan Scheiber, CEO at Bühler Group.  

“I believe it will make a significant contribution towards a more sustainable future.”     

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