Plant-based protein facility opens in Latvia

Golden Fields, an Estonian processor of pea and bean ingredients, has invested €16 million ($17.1M) in a new plant-based protein facility in Liepāja, 200 km west of the capital, Riga.

The facility, which will have an annual production capacity of 50,000 tons, is expected to produce plant-based protein, pellets, fibers, starches and flours using pea and fava beans for various industries, including pet food and animal nutrition.

The plant has 1 production line installed, with 2 more and a packaging line underway. According to local media, the new factory will create 150 jobs over the next 2 years.

The company will source raw materials from Finland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.

Bunge to facilitate sales

Golden Fields also reached an agreement with global agribusiness and ingredient supplier Bunge to facilitate commercial sales of the manufactured protein to key markets, including the US, Japan and China.

Golden Fields CEO Mahmoud Ahmed says this will leverage its “breadth of customers, strong supply chain, leading quality assurance, and application expertise across the food and feed markets.”

“We’re excited to help customers seeking sustainable and traceable plant proteins to grow brands of any size,” adds Brian Douville, Vice President of Emulsifiers & Protein at Bunge.

Popularity of plant-based diets

Ahmed notes that increased demand for alternative protein like pea and bean ingredients is due to the growing popularity of plant-based diets, shifting consumer preferences and a higher preference for meat substitutes, particularly in industrialized nations.

Golden Fields is considering developing similar facilities in other Baltic nations. The business previously invested €7 million ($7.4M) in another plant in Lääne County, Estonia.