MN food giants collaborate on plant-based proteins

Earlier this week, a coalition that includes Cargill, General Mills and Schwann’s Co. announced an effort to develop new animal feed and plant-based proteins.

JoAnne Berkenkamp is managing director of the MBOLD, the research coalition. She said traditional protein products, such as beef, are often taxing for the environment. 

“So the MBOLD Protein Catalyst has come together with a set of members and partners to tackle this question of how can the world's protein needs be met sustainably in the decades ahead?” she said. 

The Catalyst will focus on research and development to be shared publicly across the industry. It will also provide mentorship to startups.

Berkenkamp said that research will also benefit North American farmers who produce many of the crops used to make protein products. 

“We realized how important it is to collaborate broadly and across the supply chain, from farmers all the way down to the fork,” she said.

That collaboration also crosses borders. Mehmet Tulbek is the president of the Saskatchewan Food Industry Development Center, a Canadian food research organization.

“We've been helping American companies for a long time, and it's the other way around, too,” Tulbek said. “We look forward to growing and developing further relationships.”

Tulbek added that while Canada and the U.S. are embroiled in a trade dispute, his group’s partnership with Minnesota industries signals a path forward for collaboration across the two nations.