Conference: Science key to plant protein success

22 June 2018

An upcoming food technology conference in Auckland on alternative proteins for food production will debate whether it’s a market challenge or a massive new opportunity for local producers. Science leaders here say the changing global consumer trends bring a huge commercial opportunity for New Zealand agriculture.

“New Zealand has strength in protein isolation and manufacturing technologies developed through our dairy industry. These technologies provide a solid base for further process developments of plant proteins,” says Jocelyn Eason, General Manager Science, Food Innovation at Plant & Food Research*. Eason is one of the key science speakers at the Innovatek “ProteinTECH” coming to Auckland on 24 July.

Highlights* from the Plant & Food Research “plant based foods” report include:
• Plant variety rights offer intellectual property rights opportunities for New Zealand developers;
• New production methods and locally developed innovations can ensure sustainability;
• Local technical and science skills are key to scaling up plant protein extraction;
• Local plant crops have significant potential as sources of high quality plant protein;
• Combined industry and research expertise can develop premium food offerings.

To date the mainstream media focus has been limited to popular food products like Sunfed Food’s chicken-less chicken and ‘Impossible’ plant-based burgers where the focus is providing a meat-like meal with plant-based products. The reality is there is much more to the global market for food based on plant proteins.

The back story, says ProteinTECH director John Stulen, is there are some very experienced teams with research and science experience, developing commercial processes. They are set to capitalise on the new found popularity and growing market acceptance for sustainable plant-based foods and food ingredients.

Stulen adds, “Our conference includes a wide range of people with technical, market and research experience. We are pleased with the quality of our delegates to date; it's a very senior level group of people from across agriculture including senior management, technical, science and research. It’s proving very popular.”

Coming to Auckland in mid-July, Innovatek’s ProteinTECH Conference brings together leaders in primary industries from the development and research fields. These key people have their finger on the pulse on changing food production trends, alongside industry analysts, financiers and key accounting/consulting firms. If food production, niche or commodity is your business, ProteinTECH is a must-see event.

To register go to: https://proteintech.events/ . Its on 24 July at the Novotel Auckland Airport Hotel.

* Source: Plant & Food Research Report: Opportunities in plant based foods – PROTEIN (May 2018)

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