Wide Open Agriculture (WOA) will develop an in-house lupin and plant-based protein manufacturing facility in Western Australia. The expected cost of the initial construction is $1.6 million.
The pilot plant will be used to refine the lupin production process, protect and built new IP, and produce pilot-scale, food grade quantities of Modified Lupin Protein. The site will be built close to WOA’s Dirty Clean Food operations in Kewdale, WA.
“Our in-house pilot plant will offer WOA unmatched global capability and know-how in the production of lupin-based proteins with a unique techno-function sorted from WA’s leading regenerative farmers,” said WOA managing director Ben Cole.
The creation of the plant will help to develop an IP portfolio that is tailored to end-product purposes, such as plant-based burgers, drinks, yoghurts and gluten-free noodles.
The pilot plant will act as an ideal facility to explore the potential to apply WOA’s technology to other plant inputs such as regenerative pulses grown in WA and Australia such as chickpeas, lentils and fava beans, the company said.
WOA is now expected to place purchase orders for the machinery and begin construction for the $1.6 million site.
