Plant-based protein hub
We scoped the potential for a plant-based protein supply chain in North Queensland, focusing on developing new regional industries with a circular economy lens.
The protein regional processing hub will meet a national gap for local manufacturing of protein ingredients, which are currently imported.
Benefits of our research
Sunflower is one of the crops that has potential for the plant-based protein supply chain.
Together with our partner, Wandarra, we scoped a possible supply chain, demonstrating production and processing capabilities for five crops (hemp, sunflower, mungbean, soybean and chickpea) that can be fully transformed into multiple co-products such as high value ingredients. Through this, local farmers were able to better understand the types of crops that could be grown in the region.
This also helped business leaders understand co-product opportunities and the techno-economics at pre-feasibility levels, while councils and state government stakeholders were able to identify regional opportunities for investment.
Our approach
First, we considered all protein crops that can be grown in the region. Next, we assessed the ability to utilise the crops against the range of value-added products.
We looked at market demands for protein ingredients, and the environmental sustainability aspect of these crops. We explored the innovative processes required and expected functionalities of protein flours and ingredients for selected crops.
We described return on investment scenarios and job creation opportunities. We made recommendations moving forward on next steps to develop a regional protein hub considering a range of innovative approaches across the value chain.
CSIRO’s Future Protein Mission supported this project, as did our Northern Agriculture Futures project. The project was part funded by the CSIRO Kick-Start Program. Kick-Start is an initiative for innovative Australian start-ups and small SMEs, providing funding support and access to CSIRO’s research expertise and capabilities to help grow and develop their business.
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Image credit: Engineers Australia.
Contact Dr Pablo Juliano to learn more about this research.