Sourcing sustainable plant-based protein

Valuable co-products

Most companies use land to grow potatoes and peas to extract proteins directly from these cultivated crops.
A more responsible and sustainable way to increase protein availability is to use that part of the cultivated crop which is ‘food loss’. Food loss is any food that is lost in the supply chain between the grower and the market, such as co-products of the food processing industry. 

Many co-products are used as feed for livestock. But these co-products contain valuable proteins which can be extracted and have a significant lower carbon foot­print than proteins from cultivated crops. 

Duynie Ingredients, part of Duynie Group, produces sustainable plant-based ingredients for the pet food industry, all based on co-products. For more than 50 years, the company has specialised in creating maximum value from co-products, by translating them into new products, including proteins, suitable for various applications. In this way, the food processing industry is supported in maximal use of their raw materials, customers are provided with sustainable proteins and planetary boundaries are respected. 

Supporting sustainability goals

Extracted protein from co-products is very suitable for use in pet food and, as a co-product, offers reduced environmental impact, because of the lower impact on land use and a lower carbon footprint. So using proteins from co-products helps pet food producers realise their sustainability goals.

Sources of protein

Brewers grain protein is extracted from spent grains from the brewery industry. Most spent brewers grain is used for livestock feed, but it contains plenty of valuable and reusable ingredients, including proteins. Brewers grain protein is being tested with some pet food producers and will be available on the market later in 2020.

Potatoes are used in high quantities for making starch. Once the starch has been extracted, co-products are traditionally used as animal feed. With innovative new ways to extract greater value from the potato co-product of starch manufacturing, potato protein from co-products has a huge potential as plant-based protein in pet food.

Another important protein for the future will be pea protein. Testing is currently underway to extract protein from co-products from the pea processing industry. 

Responsible and sustainable

Duynie Group is doing extensive research and testing to generate new plant-based proteins for the pet food industry by extracting them from co-products.
In this way, the company contributes to a more responsible and sustainable way to feed pets.