After over ten years of research and development, DSM has succeeded in producing a high-quality protein isolate from canola seeds.
Otherwise known as rapeseeds, canola seeds contain all nine essential amino acids and are free of major allergens. But DSM’s new product, Vertis™ CanolaPRO®, is not just a source of protein — it is also a functional ingredient that improves the texture of meat and seafood alternatives and gives dairy alternatives a smoother mouthfeel.
“We are immensely proud to bring Vertis CanolaPRO to the market”
Vertis CanolaPRO is highly sustainable as it is made from canola meal, a co-product of canola oil production. This means that no additional farmland is required to produce the protein, and the production process uses minimal water and no solvents. The ingredient is produced in collaboration with vegetable oil and protein processor Avril Group, in a joint venture that was first announced in 2020.
New brand position
DSM says it is also unveiling new brand positioning for its Vertis portfolio, which includes plant protein concentrates and textured vegetable proteins made from peas and faba beans. The company acquired the latter when it purchased Europe’s leading pea and bean producer, Vestkorn Milling, last year. It is hoped that sales of Vertis products will help DSM achieve its target of reaching 150 million people by 2030.
The company also continues to innovate with new ingredients such as algae-based omega-3s for use in meat and fish alternatives and an enzymatic solution to simplify oat drink production.
“We are immensely proud to bring Vertis™ CanolaPRO® to the market to help address the need for nutritious, delicious, and sustainable plant-based food and beverages,” said Patrick Niels, executive vice president of Food & Beverage at DSM. “At DSM, we’re driven to partner with our customers in the food and beverage industry to produce great products that have benefits for both people and the planet. With the launch of Vertis™ CanolaPRO® alongside our legume-based offering, we are establishing a leading portfolio of healthy and sustainable plant proteins that even better positions us as a go-to innovation partner for the plant-based market.”
