Wide Open Agriculture CEO Ben Cole with the equipment which will soon produce the Buntine Protein lupin concentrate. Photo: WOA

FOOD and beverage company, Monde Nissin Australia (MNA), has signed a supply agreement with Western Australia’s Wide Open Agriculture (WOA) to purchase up to 60 per cent of the company’s lupin-based protein concentrate, Buntine Protein.

Established in 2014, MNA is the owner of brands Nudie fruit juices, Black Swan dips and yogurts, Peckish crackers, and Wattle Valley delicatessen and baked lines.

It is also the national distributor of Quorn, a meat alternative food product from the United Kingdom made from mycoprotein, a protein made from naturally occurring fugus.

As part of the agreement, MNA will purchase over half of the total production from WOA’s pilot production facility over a two-year period.

MNA general manager – strategic projects, Ian Griffiths, said the company will use Buntine Protein as the main ingredient to develop various food and beverage products for the Australian market.

He said MNA was looking forward to working with a company which has a commitment to the environment.

“MNA is committed to supporting the uptake of sustainable and regenerative farming practices,” Mr Griffiths said.

“We are rapidly advancing a range of innovative products to utilise Buntine Protein with its exceptional nutritional benefits.”

WOA chief executive officer Ben Cole said, given its strong market position and track record, MNA is strategically WOA’s preferred partner to commercialise the potential of Buntine Protein.

“WOA is excited to be working with MNA who share our passion to develop the market for regenerative lupin products,” Dr Cole said.

“This agreement has the potential to catalyse farmers to grow more regenerative lupins and offer consumers a range of innovative, delicious plant-based products.”

The agreement is non-exclusive, allowing WOA to continue engaging with other potential partners and offer Buntine Protein as a key ingredient in product development to other food-and-beverage companies.

If MNA’s new product development is received well in its test market, WOA plans to build a large-scale commercial plant to supply MNA’s long-term volume requirements.

MNA is the Australian distributor of vegetarian and vegan “meat” product company, Quorn. Photo: Quorn

Alongside its development and manufacturing arm, WOA purchases and markets food-and-beverage products, including OatUp oat milk, under its Dirty Clean Food brand.

Dirty Clean Food chief executive officer Jay Albany is part of the team overseeing the construction of the lupin pilot-production facility, and said the agreement validates the potential of the new protein product.

“We are optimistic that this agreement is the beginning of a long and mutually beneficial partnership between WOA and Monde Nissin,” Mr Albany said.

“Since our initial design, we have expanded the scope and scale of the facility to enable these types of supply agreements as well as to develop our roadmap, including our high-protein oat milk.”

Construction of the pilot plant which will process WA-grown lupins into Buntine Protein has commenced, and initial deliveries of lupins are expected next month.

Source: Wide Open Agriculture