Bunge expands protein concentrate portfolio with pea and faba proteins

EUROPE – Bunge Global SA has announced a strategic collaboration with Golden Fields, an agricultural company and dry miller of pea and faba in Europe, to enhance its portfolio with new pea and faba protein concentrates. 

This move complements Bunge’s existing soy protein lineup and addresses the growing demand for diverse plant proteins in the food, pet, and feed sectors.

Golden Fields has constructed a new factory in Liepaja, Latvia, dedicated to producing these protein concentrates exclusively for Bunge. The facility marks a significant investment to meet the increasing demand for plant proteins beyond soy. 

Bunge’s new range of pea and faba protein concentrates is non-GMO, light in color, finely powdered, and delivers between 55% and 70% protein dryly. This high protein content allows food and feed manufacturers to enhance their products’ nutritional profile while supporting non-GMO and allergen-free labeling.

Bunge’s pea and faba protein concentrates offer notable sustainability benefits. These proteins are sourced from crops farmed through crop rotation practices, which support soil health and biodiversity. 

The extraction process uses dry fractionation, avoiding the use of water or solvents typically required in pulse protein production. This method reduces the environmental impact of protein extraction.

Crops are sourced from a European network of local farmers in Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia, which minimizes transportation distances to the processing facility, further enhancing the sustainability of the production process.

Adding pea and faba protein concentrates to Bunge’s portfolio complements its range of oils, fats, and lecithins. This expanded offering enables Bunge to provide customized solutions that meet various customer needs across the food and feed industries.

As consumer interest in plant-based diets and sustainable food production continues to rise, Bunge’s diversified protein portfolio positions the company to meet these evolving market demands. 

The new protein concentrates support dietary preferences for non-GMO and allergen-free products and align with global sustainability goals.

EU regulators to decide on Bunge, Viterra’s US$34 bln deal

Meanwhile, Bunge and Glencore-backed Viterra’s plan to create a $34 billion agricultural trading giant will be agreed upon by EU antitrust regulators by July 18, a European Commission filing showed recently.

The Commission, the EU competition enforcer, can either clear the deal with or without remedies after its preliminary review or open a four-month investigation if it has serious concerns.

Bunge Chief Executive Greg Heckman has said the company may be able to avoid having to sell assets to win regulatory approval thanks to healthy competition in the commodities market in Canada, the United States, Brazil, Argentina, China, and parts of Europe.

However, the Canadian competition watchdog has cited major concerns and farm groups voiced similar worries. The deal also needs the regulatory green light in North America, South America, and China.

For all the latest grains industry news from Africa, the Middle East, and the World, subscribe to our weekly NEWSLETTERS, follow us on LinkedIn, and subscribe to our YouTube channel.