The latest news, trends, analysis, interviews and podcasts from the global food and beverage industry

ADM and food processing solutions provider Marel have signed a JV agreement to build a taste and texture-focused innovation centre in the Netherlands. The centre will be based in the Netherlands Food Valley at the Wageningen Campus and is designed for food manufacturers to work alongside food scientists, extrusion experts and culinary professionals to prototype, manufacture and market alt-protein products. At the new facility, ADM and Marel will offer training and workshops to inspire next-generation solutions to support the increasing consumer demand for a variety of protein offerings. Allyson Fish, president of global alternative proteins for ADM, said: “This centre is another example of our continued investment in expanding alternative protein innovation that will help meet the needs of a growing global population. Partnering with Marel is another important step as we advance protein innovation for the EMEA region and beyond.” The announcement follows ADM’s opening of a new extrusion facility in Serbia last year, as well as the company’s $300 million investment to expand its production of soy protein concentrate at its Decatur, Illinois facility in the US. Jesper Hjortshoj, vice president of business development at Marel, said: “Our long-standing relationship with ADM is the foundation of this partnership, and with our downstream processing capabilities, the centre will use equipment from Marel and Wenger, enabling unique innovation and creation from raw ingredients, through the extrusion process, right up to finished products”. The centre is anticipated to open in the second half of 2024 subject to regulatory approvals. Until the opening, ADM will occupy a temporary laboratory in the Plus Ultra II building within the grounds of the Campus, to support customer development projects.