Meelunie to open Fava Protein Processing Plant – a potential gamechanger in the protein transition

In keeping with its pioneering commitment to the protein transition, Meelunie has announced it will be opening a fava protein isolate manufacturing facility in Hedensted, Denmark in October 2022.

Meelunie, a leading global supplier of plant-based ingredients, believes fava will play a pivotal role in the protein transition as it helps to meet the growing demand for plant-based proteins in ways that also address deforestation, inefficiencies in global agriculture and other climate-related challenges.

The facility will be equipped with cutting-edge processing technology from SiccaDania, and employ a breakthrough process methodology developed by the University of Copenhagen (UCPH) following 17 years’ research.

“The UCPH breakthrough is two-fold,” said Gijs van Elst, the project’s leader at Meelunie. “First, they’ve managed to remove the fava bean’s bitter taste, making it perfect for use in human food applications ranging from dairy and meat alternatives to sports nutrition and gluten-free products. And UCPH’s process is also more efficient, so we’re able to valorise the entire bean.”

Meelunie CEO Marco Heering sees this processing facility as a significant step forward. “The limited availability and suitability of local alternatives to soya has been a handbrake on the protein transition for some years. Because the fava bean thrives in non-tropical climates, such as Europe and North America, this facility can be a genuine gamechanger.”

The facility will be located near land ideally suited to cultivating fava beans and produce high-quality fava ingredients. Appropriately enough, the factory design is also climate-friendly. “Water used in the production process will be filtered and reused to create a circular system, and we’ll capture heat generated in production for reuse in the local municipality’s heating system,” added Van Elst.

Meelunie is a leading global supplier of starches and plant-based proteins. Its product range covers a wide variety of food, animal nutrition and industrial applications, and includes trusted brands such as Windmill Potato Starch alongside an ever-growing assortment of organic products.

Fava Protein project in detail

Meelunie is building a factory through partnership with SiccaDania, Copenhagen University, the Danish Green Investment Fund (Danmarks Grønne Investeringsfond) and Ringkjøbing Landbobank with a total investment value of DKK 250 million (US$39.61 million).

The vision of the project is to make Fava bean protein to be a central source of energy in the food of the future. This little bean can function both as a substitute for meat and can act as a very good substitute for several other plant protein sources which have already made their way into the market. This includes soya protein which is an important ingredient in plant-based milk and meat alternatives. In contrast to soya protein, fava bean protein has several positive benefits which include the claim that it is more nutritious than soya bean, and the fact that it is easier to grow for the cooler environment and does not need to be grown on the other side of the globe, where transport in turn has a negative effect on the climate.

The fava bean project is developed based on patented research done by the University of Copenhagen and BiOptimate, and the Dutch ingredients trader Meelunie B.V. will handle marketing and sales of the final protein product. The Danish process technology provider SiccaDania will deliver the technology and process knowledge as well as the construction of the plant, while the Danish Green Investment Fund and Ringkjøbing Landbobank will provide funding for the project. Finally, the faba beans will be delivered by Hornsyld Købmandsgaard A/S.

CEO of SiccaDania, Søren Sten Rasmussen said, “At SiccaDania, we have worked intensively to develop this project over the past few years. It is therefore with great satisfaction that we can now start the construction of the factory, which will produce proteins, starch and food fibres from fava beans. This project will also make a significant contribution towards putting Denmark on the world map for the development and sustainable production of alternative proteins. If the total amount of protein from the new factory is used as a meat substitute for beef, the total annual CO2 emission will be reduced by approx. 400,000 tonnes. It is so significant that it can be seen on the country’s CO2 bottom line.”

With growing food scarcity as the world population will reach 10 billion by 2050, the need to diversify into alternative sources of proteins are of great importance to human survival on the planet. Fava bean is just one of the latest new alternatives.