A new plant protein production facility is being developed in Latvia, aiming to be the first in Europe to directly convert locally grown crops into plant-based protein ingredients on an industrial scale. Utilizing dry extrusion technology from Finnish company Happy Plant Protein, the facility is expected to have an annual capacity of 5,000 tonnes and process crops like faba beans, oats, and peas primarily from Latvia and the Baltic region. The project represents a leaner capital model for protein production, with an investment of approximately €6 million and a focus on sustainability, efficiency, and reducing reliance on imported protein ingredients.

By bringing protein production closer to the farm gate, the facility aims to help agricultural producers capture more value from their crops and move up the value chain from raw materials to higher-value food ingredients. The decentralised production model stands in contrast to traditional large-scale facilities and is intended to strengthen regional protein self-sufficiency. The plant will supply textured vegetable protein (TVP) to food manufacturers for use in plant-based and hybrid food products, marking a significant step for Happy Plant Protein in deploying its licensed technology at an industrial scale in Europe.