Minnesota-based plant-based ingredients company Apparo Inc. has entered a joint development agreement with global provider of natural ingredients and solutions Döhler to formulate upcycled ingredients for the F&B market.
Döhler, recognizing the growing consumer interest in healthy and sustainable products, is exploring the use of Apparo’s “Total Crop Utilization” system, to add sustainable ingredients that contribute to the circular economy to its toolbox of solutions for plant-based products.
Leveraging further innovations in protein, Döhler and US biotech Superbrewed Food recently partnered to scale the production of a postbiotic protein ingredient. They plan to launch it in the US this year in healthy, high-quality products.
Apparo CEO Ian Mackay expressed his excitement about partnering with Döhler, indicating that he anticipates the partnership will lead to the creation of important business opportunities, reported Food Engineering.
Upcycling at grand scale
According to Mackay, approximately 55 million tons of sunflower seeds are grown globally annually. Of this, 44 million are for oil production, which produces 25 million tons of sunflower waste that is turned into low-quality protein for animal feed due to harsh extraction methods.
Instead, Apparo has found a way to introduce these proteins into the food supply chain. The company has developed a Total Crop Utilization system to upcycle crops on a grand scale, starting with sunflowers.
The company’s s platform also includes a production method for extracting protein and other nutritional food-grade ingredients: two “Solistein” sunflower protein isolates that are said to offer 90% protein, excellent flavor, and functional features, a protein concentrate with fibers, expeller sunflower oil, and a polyphenol nutritional ingredient for nutraceuticals.
Innovative processing solutions
In addition, companies looking to reduce waste and create new opportunities can benefit from Apparo’s program, which offers consulting and licensing expertise in three key areas: the ingredients market, food science, and process engineering development.
Through the Total Crop Utilization system, specialists help clients develop new and nutritious ingredients from what would otherwise be considered waste products. At the same time, businesses can reduce costs, generate new revenue streams, and contribute to a more sustainable food system.
With more than 150 years of food processing and industry experience, including more than 40 patents published or awarded in the US and worldwide, Apparo focuses on introducing innovative processing to the world’s food industry. In 2022, the company raised $3.5 million to support the development of its new sunflower proteins. The round was co-led by Endeavor8 and Finistere Ventures, with Blue Horizon participating.
“Too often crops are harvested to extract a single component while the remaining material is downgraded and sold for animal feed,” says the company.
