As the alternative protein industry grows, yellow peas are gaining attention for their high protein content. Companies such as Beyond Meat, U.S. meat maker Tyson Foods and Switzerland’s Nestlé are using the protein in yellow peas as a key ingredient in plant-based foods, including burgers, bacon, tuna and yogurt.
According to Future Market Insights, the global yellow pea market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.1% between 2020 and 2030. The market research firm believes that peas are on the rise in popularity due to their health benefits and nutritional properties.
Israeli seed developer Equinom has recently claimed to have broken its own industry record of 75% protein in a minimally processed pea protein ingredient, up from 70% previously.
Equinom was founded in 2012 by Gil Shalev to develop technology to breed new varieties of seeds. Gil Shalev has a background in plant breeding, having previously co-founded a flower breeding startup.
Equinom’s most recent funding round was a $20 million Series C round in June last year. “We started exploring the industry seven years ago and quickly became a global pioneer in agtech,” said Shalev. “Through our partnership with leading food brands such as Sabra, which is owned by PepsiCo, we are the first to develop a product that already exists on the market. Non-GMO/Non-Gene Edited Breeding Company for Multiple Trait Components.”
Equinom currently has more than 100,000 acres on five continents and has signed multi-million dollar contracts with market-leading food brands.
To develop a protein composition of up to 75%, Equinom uses high protein yellow pea varieties, using only hybrid technology to bring the “unusually” high protein content and other properties to its yellow pea composition.
Specifically, by applying artificial intelligence and traditional breeding techniques to its proprietary seed bank, Equinom leverages the natural diversity of crops to create a range of non-GMO varieties to meet the needs of the expanding plant-based food industry. These seeds have premium and value-added properties such as high protein, good organoleptic qualities and nutrition, as well as features that minimize processing.
To this end, Equinom has developed the Manna™ technology platform: the ideal sequences for food applications can be identified in the genetic structure of seeds and the best hybrid matches can be predicted to produce better varieties. The platform uses artificial intelligence to naturally develop high-quality, high-yielding, non-GMO ingredients in half the time of traditional crop development cycles.
The Manna™ platform starts by screening seed banks for seed varieties that match the multi-trait specifications offered by food companies. Once a match is found, Equinom grows the source seeds and processes them into a protein concentrate that is used as a key ingredient in food company applications.
If no matching cultivar is found, the Manna™ platform uses the following high-throughput steps to predict plant hybridization options that will produce the desired triplet: The system locates cultivars with a subset of desired traits; proprietary algorithms predict potential interference with intended breeding Interactions between multiple genes of the outcome and those that may enhance the outcome; the algorithm also seeks to minimize environmental factors that may affect gene behavior without altering the DNA; the AI integrates these factors to define the most important ones for the desired trait Genetic blocks, and calculate the genomic code of the target product. This ideal genetic combination, a multi-trait specification, is the Target Product Genomic Code (TPGC); AI equipped with TPGC simulates millions of breeding combinations, identifying in the shortest possible time the varieties that produce closely matched TPGC cultivars. Plant mix.
Given the unusually high protein content of the source crop and other properties, Equinom Pea Protein (EPP) offers pea protein isolate (often used in food applications) and pea protein concentrate (often used in pet food). Additionally, EPP contains high fiber and less sodium than other commercially available pea protein isolates.
Equinom plans to continue optimizing the breeding and milling of its EPP ingredients, hoping to create a commercial version in the future that provides 75% protein content. Equinom is currently developing crops such as yellow peas, soybeans and sesame. The company also plans to develop other crops, including chickpeas, mung beans, cowpeas and fava beans.
Of course, its existing EPP ingredients are marketed to provide 65-72% protein content with minimal processing. “Our research shows that protein levels above 65% unlock new functions that can be better applied to the alternative meat, alternative dairy and dry food categories, so it remains a groundbreaking ingredient.
Although headquartered in Israel, Equinom is targeting the global market. Sigal Meirovitch, senior director and head of R&D, said the U.S. and Canadian markets are definitely a priority for the company, but she also sees opportunities in Europe and Asia.