Developing VIP Leaf, an alternative plant protein
Added on 29 June 2023
The two-year project will develop methods to use vertical farming facilities to grow amaranth, a plant known for its many health benefits and numerous antioxidants, which is also undervalued in the current UK food market. The amaranth crops will be used to develop a new source of plant protein that will decrease the UK’s reliance on imports of plant proteins such as soy and pea, boosting the UK economy and environmental impact and the health of the average UK consumer. Amaranth has been proven to be a lower-cost alternative to the more commonly used pea protein. Amaranth is commonly eaten in Southern Africa, Southeast Asia, and South America and with indoor farming technology, could be grown in the UK year-round.
The demand for plant-based protein is increasing as the vegan, vegetarian, and flexitarian food markets grow as consumers look to make healthy and sustainable choices. The VIP Leaf project aims to address growing demand by bringing together experts working in vertical farming technology and crop biology to develop a high-yielding, high-protein, quality crop. The crop can then be used to develop recipes for a meat alternative that is a market-ready product for UK consumers.
Conducting the growing process exclusively within vertical farming facilities will reduce water and energy consumption, reduce the amount of land for cultivation, and decrease carbon emissions emitted during the transportation process as the vertical farm is located on the food manufacturing site. Vertically farmed amaranth will have lower environmental costs compared to other more widely available plant proteins.
Photo: Vertical Future
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