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Branston to open facility to extract protein from potatoes to be used in the plant-based sector

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1.5 min read
AUTHOR: Stef Bottinelli
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Branston are teaming up with agtech start-up B-Hive Innovations to create a potato-based vegan protein to be used in the manufacture of plant-based meat.

The Lincolnshire- based company, who supplies fresh and prepared potatoes, such as chips, is building a new £6M facility for the extraction of the potato protein.

This new Potato Protein Extraction Plant is said to be the first of its kind in the UK and B-Hive Innovations are working on creating bespoke technologies for the potato protein extraction. Low-value potatoes will be turned into a protein that can be used in vegan, vegetarian and clean-label products. It will also be used in starch-based products for other manufacturing applications.

At the helm of the project is Richard Fell, Managing Director of Branston‘s Prepared Food division, who commented: “We’re delighted to be working with B-hive Innovations on this new venture. Most people are aware of potato starch and fibre in potatoes, but they don’t consider the highly nutritious protein fraction.

“B-hive Innovations has been honing this technology for a number of years, working with a group of academic and industry partners and supported by Innovate UK. They have developed a process to gently extract and isolate high-grade proteins from potatoes. This means we have the potential to meet the growing requirements from food manufacturers for 100% plant-based protein that is free from allergens and is fully traceable from our UK grown crops.”.

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