WOA to select site for Buntine protein manufacture

Wide Open Agriculture has progressed site selection for its commercial scale factory to manufacture buntine protein derived from sweet lupin.

The company told investors this followed positive feedback from potential partners and sales prospects for the product’s versatility as a food ingredient in multiple high value food categories.

CEO Jay Albany said the company had made excellent progress in developing a range of applications during the quarter including high protein oat milk, oat biscuits, noodles, vegan cheese, food supplements and snacking dips.

This was a key signal to the food industry that buntine protein was ready to use in commercially available foods.

Albany said: “Production taking place at our innovation centre and pilot plant in Kewdale, WA continues to improve and is now producing the highest quality product since inception.

“Buntine protein offers unique benefits for food manufacturers including high levels of solubility, gelation and emulsification, as well as the strongest sustainability story in the segment.”

The company has provided samples of the product to numerous food producers in the past quarter, he said.

In May last year WOA signed a supply agreement with Monde Nissin Australia for buntine protein, produced from WA sweet lupins, for use as the key ingredient in upcoming food and beverage products.

Lupins are the most popular type of pulse grown in Australia, the most popular type of which is sweet lupin.

Wide Open Agriculture’s Dirty Clean Food brand high protein oat milk has progressed into a ready to drink prototype format in a 330ml aluminium can.

The launch of a locally produced high protein milk product range is expected this calendar year.

Picture: Wide Open Agriculture/high protein biscuits and chocolate oat milk