The challenge

We all need protein for health and fitness. But getting most of our protein from animals is both unhealthy and unsustainable.

Population growth and increasing wealth are driving a higher demand for protein. Based on current projections, the world will need to increase its protein production by 30-100% by 2050.

Animal protein from meat and dairy is highly nutritious. Yet eating too much meat is linked to chronic diseases such as bowel cancer, heart disease, diabetes and stroke.

Producing animal protein is also extremely wasteful: It takes about 5 g of feed protein to generate 1 g of chicken protein. This number increases to 15 g for pork, and to a whopping 25 g for beef.

Why rapeseed protein?

Rapeseed meal contains 30-40% high-quality protein, along with plenty of fibre, healthy fats, vitamins and minerals.

Rapeseed meal is the solid byproduct of oil extraction from rapeseed. It contains 30-40% high-quality protein with a nutritionally excellent amino acid profile. It also has about 10% fibre and about 5% healthy fats.

However, rapeseed meal also contains anti-nutritional compounds that interfere with the body's absorption of some nutrients. It also tastes very bitter.

That is why raw rapeseed meal is not suitable for human consumption. Currently most of it is used as feed for livestock, and some to make bio-fuel or fertiliser.

Our innovation

At NorthStar Proteins, we use cutting-edge science to develop processing techniques that unlock rapeseed protein for human consumption.

Building on our deep expertise in biochemistry and biotechnology, we develop gentle, natural technologies for the production of high-protein, clean-label ingredients for the food industry.

Our focus initially will be on ingredients for bread, cereals and snacks. Using high-protein ingredients in these staples will make it easy for consumers to include high-quality, natural protein in their everyday diet.

Our target customers will be food manufacturers with a focus on high-protein, high-fibre, clean-label products.

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