The new white paper outlines 10 pathways to more affordable, sustainable plant-based products
In their fifth annual collaboration, Givaudan and the University of California Berkeley have released transformative research paving the way for enhanced efficiency in alternative protein. The latest white paper entitled ‘10 Alternative Protein Pathways: Opportunities for Greater Efficiency’ outlines key challenges and opportunities on the journey to co-create delicious and nutritious alt-protein experiences that delight consumers.
With more consumers expected to explore plant-based protein, opportunities abound for food producers and retailers to develop sustainable, healthy alternatives that deliver diverse food experiences. With its deep industry knowledge, Givaudan has once again teamed up with the University of California Berkeley Product Development Program to provide practical steps on how industry players can create mouthwatering, affordable, alternative protein products.
Sudhir Joshi, Professor, Board Member and Product Development Program Coach at the University of California Berkeley, said: “Alternative proteins can significantly reduce environmental impact and improve human health. Our findings identified four key areas where producers can focus on improving efficiencies and reducing costs for alternative protein products. These were further divided into specific steps companies can take to mitigate risk, while still making tasty, healthy, and cost-effective products.”
The research explores the key challenges the industry faces, such as supply chain issues, resource consumption, production scale-up, and competitive pricing. It also offers 10 clear and actionable pathways to help alt-protein producers address these hurdles and maximise efficiency. This includes identifying ingredient combinations that ensure the best quality and value for both food innovators and consumers and outlining ways to optimise the use of energy, water, and other natural resources. The end goal? To enable the industry to create alternative protein experiences that are good for both people and the planet.
To bring the insights from its new research to life, Givaudan is also launching a Start-Up Challenge. The company will select five start-ups from around the world to reduce the costs of a standard recipe using the pathways outlined in the white paper, including raw material optimisation, hybrid products, process optimisation, and new technology and innovations.