Crespel & Deiters Strikes Deal to Scale Up Happy Plant Protein’s Dry Extrusion Tech

German ingredient giant Crespel & Deiters has partnered with Finnish company Happy Plant Protein to scale up its one-step dry extrusion technology for producing textured vegetable protein (TVP) from locally grown crops. This partnership marks the first commercial-scale implementation of Happy Plant Protein's technology by a major European manufacturer, with the tech being integrated into Crespel & Deiters's Helmond facility in the Netherlands.

Happy Plant Protein's dry extrusion process eliminates the bitter and beany off-flavors often found in traditional plant protein isolates, allowing for the production of high-value proteins with minimal water and energy use, and no isolates, chemicals, or waste. This collaboration aligns with the European Commission's Protein Plan, which aims to reduce the EU's dependency on imported plant-based proteins by promoting the use of legumes and pulses in the region's food supply chain. Through this partnership, Crespel & Deiters and Happy Plant Protein are working towards creating more efficient and sustainable plant-based ingredient solutions in Europe.