Cargill Invests in Plant-Based Protein

Animal-feed company Cargill announced this week that it entered into a venture agreement with PURIS—North America’s largest producer of pea protein. Cargill invested an undisclosed amount into the company to support its efforts in developing sustainable plant-based foods. “Cargill is excited to expand into the emerging pea-protein space while continuing to support our conventional agricultural crops,” David Henstrom, vice president of Cargill Starches, Sweeteners and Texturizers, said. “It’s clear that PURIS is in alignment with Cargill’s vision to meet the growing demand for protein globally and to help customers deliver label-friendly products without sacrificing taste.” Cargill’s investment will allow PURIS to open a second pea-protein plant and continue to support its organic pea-farmer partners. “With Cargill’s support,” PURIS President Tyler Lorenzen said, “our plant-based ingredients become available to customers and consumers on a global scale. Our founder set out to feed the world in 1986. Now it’s coming true.” Pea protein is a central ingredient in several vegan products, including Ripple Foods’ plant-based milk and Beyond Meat’s popular vegan Beyond Burger. In September, vegan director James Cameron and his wife Suzy Amis Cameron launched Verdient Foods—a company that will open a pea-protein facility in Canada with the mission of further pushing consumer habits away from animal protein.