Collaborative partnership announced for plant-based proteins

A partnership agreement has been made by Burcon, Nestlé and Merit Functional Foods Corporation to tailor Burcon and Merit’s novel plant-based proteins for use in Nestlé food and beverage applications.

Merit has said the joint agreement commences what is intended to be a long-term relationship among the parties covering ongoing innovation and the future supply of Burcon and Merit’s novel plant-based proteins from the commercial-scale production facility, which Merit is currently building.

“Partnering with Nestlé – a global leader in food and nutrition – is a major milestone for Merit Functional Foods,” explained Ryan Bracken, Merit’s Co-CEO. “Merit has already demonstrated the value of our novel proteins in plant-based foods. This new partnership helps build on this, and it’s a major step in developing the next generation of nutritious and delicious plant-based products that draw on the benefits of our novel proteins.”

The collaboration brings together Burcon’s proven capability in plant protein development with Nestle’s expertise in the development, production and the commercialisation of plant-based foods and beverages and Merit’s state-of-the-art protein production facility, the companies said.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with Nestlé, to customise our already exciting novel plant-based proteins,” said Johann F Tergesen, Burcon’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “This collaboration among Burcon, Nestlé and Merit is about strategic innovation to deliver unique, sustainable, great tasting, and highly nutritious plant-based products.”

This partnership will also accelerate the development of Nestlé’s plant-based meat and dairy alternatives with a favourable environmental footprint, the company said.

“Developing nutritious and great-tasting plant-based meat and dairy alternatives requires access to tasty, nutritious and sustainable raw materials as well as proprietary manufacturing technology,” added Stefan Palzer, Nestlé Chief Technology Officer. “The partnership with Burcon and Merit will give us access to unique expertise and a new range of high-quality ingredients for plant-based food and beverages.”