US-based ingredient solutions provider Ingredion has partnered with Swedish agricultural cooperative Lantmännen to advance plant-based proteins.
The collaboration will initially focus on addressing the need for competitive, sustainably sourced, and high-quality pea protein isolates in the European market.
It will also focus on sales, product innovation, and process enhancement.
Lantmännen will invest over €100m to build an advanced manufacturing facility in Sweden, with plans to complete the construction works in 2027.
Also, the cooperative will work together with Ingredion to develop a portfolio of plant-based protein isolates based on yellow peas.
The partnership would leverage the combined strengths of both companies to provide superior, sustainably sourced pea protein isolates to meet the evolving market needs.
Ingredion EMEA texture and healthful solutions senior vice president Mike O’Riordan said: “By joining forces with Lantmännen, we are expanding our footprint in the European market.
“This marks a significant milestone in our strategy to solidify our position as a global leader in the plant-based protein industry.”
Based in the suburbs of Chicago, Ingredion provides ingredient solutions to customers in around 120 countries, with annual net sales of around $8bn last year.
The company processes grains, fruits, vegetables, and other plant-based materials into value-added ingredient solutions for the food, beverage, brewing and industrial markets.
It operates Idea Labs innovation centres around the world and has over 12,000 employees.
Lantmännen is an agricultural cooperative owned by 18,000 Swedish farmers, providing agriculture, machinery, bioenergy, and food products.
The cooperative has operations in more than 20 countries and 12,000 employees, making an annual turnover of more than $7bn.
Lantmännen energy sector executive vice president and Lantmännen Biorefineries CEO Lars-Gunnar Edh said: “Partnering with Ingredion is a game-changer for us.
“Ingredion’s extensive market reach and deep expertise in process engineering and product development perfectly complement our vertically integrated production capabilities.
“Together, we are poised to revolutionise the plant-based protein market with innovative, high-quality pea protein isolates.”
