Plant protein ingredient specialist Burcon NutraScience has announced the first commercial production – and official launch – of its high-purity fava protein isolate, FavaPro.

Amid rising demand for healthy and sustainable protein ingredients, the company has developed a proprietary process to extract and purify protein from fava beans. It has now achieved the first production run of its ingredient on a commercial scale at its Galesburg manufacturing site in Illinois, US.

Fava beans, also known as broad beans, are nutrient-rich legumes known for their high protein and fibre content. Like yellow peas, they are nitrogen-fixing crops that improve soil health and reduce the need for synthetic fertilisers. These environmental and nutritional benefits are making fava an increasingly popular plant protein source for manufacturers and product developers.

FavaPro provides over 90% protein content and is naturally non-GMO and hypoallergenic. It features a neutral flavour profile and an off-white colour, enabling seamless integration into a wide range of food and beverage applications including dairy alternatives, functional beverages, snacks and baked goods.

Kip Underwood, Burcon’s chief executive officer, said: “The commercial launch of FavaPro marks an important milestone in Burcon’s growth strategy and demonstrates our ability to efficiently scale and diversify production at the Galesburg facility”.

“FavaPro was one of the most sought-after plant proteins at the recent IFT FIRST tradeshow. By adding this premium ingredient to our portfolio, we are meeting accelerating demand, enhancing Burcon’s position as an innovation leader in the rapidly growing plant protein market.”