‘Impact will come with scale…’ Ingredion, PURIS, ramp up plant protein capacity
Ingredion president and CEO Jim Zallie: 'We’re celebrating a pivotal moment in our company’s history...' (picture: screengrab from Ingredion's March 3 virtual event)
Market projections for meat and dairy alternatives vary wildly, with Impossible Foods’ CEO predicting animal agriculture could hit a ‘death spiral’ by 2035, while Wells Fargo reckons plant-based meat will account for a rather more modest 4% of the US meat market by 2029.
However, everyone agrees plant-based protein capacity needs to expand significantly to meet demand, says Ingredion, which has just opened a state-of-the-art facility in South Sioux City Nebraska producing pea protein isolates and starch; while PURIS - a key supplier of pea protein to Beyond Meat, with backing from Cargill – is gearing up to open a new facility in Dawson, MN this year, after significantly expanding production at its Turtle Lake, WI plant.