$113m for plant protein manufacturing in SA

South Australia is set to be home of the largest pulse protein ingredient manufacturing capability in Australia, thanks to a $113 million funding package from the Morrison government.

The project, led by Australian Plant Proteins (APP), received support under the Collaboration Stream of the $1.3 billion Modern Manufacturing Initiative to transform local production of pulse protein ingredients and help meet the growing global demand.

APP owns Australia’s only commercial-scale pulse protein extraction facility. This project will quadruple production in South Australia, to produce 25,000 tonnes of pulse protein yearly.

Partnering together with one of Australia’s largest family-owned food producers, Thomas Foods International and the Australian Milling Group, over $378 million will be invested in the construction of three plant protein manufacturing facilities supplying domestic and international markets.

South Australia produces over a quarter of all Australian pulses and this project gives Australia the opportunity to value-add by up to eight times the value of the product.

Locally based plant protein ingredient and food manufacturing will create a new high value-added domestic supply option for pulse growers which will in turn have downstream benefits to local communities.

The South Australian Government has also contributed $65 million to the $378 million project.

Minister for Industry, Energy and Emissions Reduction Angus Taylor said projects such as this will help spur further private investment to help our manufactures scale up.

“Manufacturing is strong in this country and we want to see it become even stronger,” Minister Taylor said.

“Australian-made food products with Australian produced and manufactured ingredients will give our food manufacturers a significant advantage in this rapidly expanding global market.”

The project is expected to generate up to $4 billion in exports by 2032, including to the US, South-East Asia and Europe.

Further recipients in the MMI Collaboration stream and new funding opportunities under the Australian Government’s Modern Manufacturing Strategy are expected to be available soon. To find out more, visit: https://www.industry.gov.au/policies-and-initiatives/manufacturing-funding.

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/Maria Raz