NETHERLANDS – Royal DSM, a nutrition and health solutions firm and French agro-industrial company Avril Group have formed a joint venture, Oletein, to produce canola (rapeseed) proteins for the global food market.
The partnership with DSM owning 75% and Avril 25% will draw on the unique know-how of each of the partners including DSM’s patented process and technology for extracting high-quality protein from canola meal and Avril’s 35-year legacy in oilseed and protein crop production.
Through the partnership the companies will begin work on a new manufacturing plant in Dieppe, France to produce CanolaPRO which will be marketed and sold by DSM.
CanolaPRO according to a press-release by DSM, has excellent functional properties, a high nutritional value, and a balanced taste profile.
It enhances vegan and vegetarian products such as meat and dairy alternatives, as well as other beverages, baked products, bars, and ready-to-mix products.
Protein is a crucial part of a healthy diet. As the world’s population heads toward 10 billion by 2050, more protein will be needed that is produced within planetary boundaries.
“With the global population continuing to grow and demand for healthy and nutritious proteins on the rise, the world needs more sustainable solutions,” said DSM Food Specialties President Patrick Niels in a statement.
“Our partnership with Avril enables the production of CanolaPRO, a high quality and nutritious protein that supports our customers to provide consumers around the world with better tasting, more enjoyable meat and dairy alternatives – in line with the market trends,” he added.
To facilitate the production, Avril is investing in the upstream part of the business, capitalizing on its leadership in oilseed crushing and seed sourcing.
Avril said it will supply Olatein with non-genetically modified canola meal from the new crushing unit that will be created on the site.
The new facility also will include a biomethane production unit, which will contribute to supplying the local public energy network and minimize the environmental footprint of production.
The finalization of the partnership initiates a new phase of activity at the Dieppe industrial site, owned by Saipol, a subsidiary of the Avril Group.
The site will be completely renovated to accommodate the new industrial complex with the support of the Normandy Region, the Dieppe Town Hall, the Port of Dieppe, and state services.
The restart of activity on the site will create new job opportunities once construction is complete, Avril said.
“This partnership with DSM is part of Avril’s strategy to develop and conquer new markets, with the aim of structuring a new high-protein seed sector and thus contribute to increasing France’s and Europe’s protein self-sufficiency,” said Jean-Philippe Puig, chief executive officer of the Avril Group.
“This project, in line with our commitments, offers a new future for the Dieppe site, while repositioning it on a new activity that will bring growth and industrial sustainability.”
According to a report by Market and Markets, the global plant-based protein market was estimated at US$18.5 billion in 2019 and is projected to grow at compound annual growth rate of 14.0% from 2019 to 2025, to reach US$40.6 billion by 2025.
Liked this article? Subscribe to Food Business Africa News, our regular email newsletters with the latest news insights from Africa and the World’s food and agro industry. SUBSCRIBE HERE
