Happy Plant Protein, a Finnish food tech startup, is constructing a groundbreaking facility in Latvia to use dry extrusion technology to process locally grown crops into high-value proteins on an industrial scale. This project represents a greenfield investment of around €6M ($7M) and is supported in part by the EU. The facility is set to begin production in early 2027 and is expected to produce around 5,000 tonnes of protein ingredients annually.

Founded in 2024, Happy Plant Protein utilizes a one-step extrusion process to create textured protein from legume flour without any isolates, chemicals, or waste. The company's technology allows for customization of protein texture, making it suitable for a variety of food products. This new facility in Latvia will use primarily local raw materials and contribute to creating new revenue streams for farmers while increasing regional protein self-sufficiency.