Ireland’s Six-Year Plant Protein Research Program Wraps Up With Eye on Export Markets

The U-Protein project, a six-year research program in Ireland funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, has concluded with promising results for the country's tillage sector. Researchers focused on extracting high-value protein ingredients from Irish-grown crops such as faba beans, lupins, peas, grasses, and seaweeds. The project also aimed to find new commercial pathways by utilizing leftover starch and fiber fractions as bio-based industrial materials, promoting full-crop utilization and sustainability.

At the closing symposium, industry perspectives were shared by Zvonimir Sedlić from Nutris, a faba bean protein producer in Croatia. Sedlić highlighted the practical challenges and requirements for scaling up plant protein production from field to factory. Professor Mark Fenelon, the project coordinator, emphasized the readiness of sustainable bioprocessing for global markets, showcasing the potential for Ireland to become a key player in the plant protein industry. The research findings aim to open doors for exporting Irish protein ingredients and further enhance the economic viability of the tillage sector.