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US food-tech company Plantible Foods has received a new loan from X-Caliber Rural Capital, a US Department of Agriculture (USDA)-backed lender, to significantly expand production of its plant-based Rubi Protein ingredient.

The $25 million loan, in addition to a $10 million equity investment from RA Capital and existing investors, will allow Plantible to quintuple annual production capacity for Rubi protein at its ‘Ranchito’ facility in Eldorado, Texas.

Rubi Protein is made from RuBisCO protein derived from Lemna (also known as duckweed, or water lentils) and has already been proven at the company’s 100-acre enclosed aquafarm site. The company’s technology uses an aquatic, controlled crop cycle, limiting exposure to seasonal volatility and extreme weather events to allow steady harvests and stable income for local, rural communities.

According to the start-up, the debt and equity financing will allow it to build up to 50 new greenhouses and increase annual production capacity to over 1,000 metric tons.

The funding win follows a series of commercial and regulatory milestones for the company. In February, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issues a ‘No Questions’ letter confirming Rubi Protein’s Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) status – the first US government approval for isolated RuBisCO protein in food applications.

Customers including ICL Food Specialties are already using Rubi Protein as a binding agent in formulations. The ingredient aims to meet growing demand for stable and clean-label plant-based proteins, providing manufacturers with a functional ingredient that contains all nine essential amino acids, vitamin B12, and a neutral taste with no known allergens.

Plantibel said the funding will enable its expansion into new markets and support fulfilment of its existing customer pipeline.

Maria Buitron, a principal at investor Piva Capital, said: “Plantible has translated breakthrough science into consistent, scalable production, and this expansion is the next proof point”.

“Reducing water consumption and expanding protein production is a holy grail for an industry that is facing consistent constraints on available, healthy protein alternatives.”

X-Caliber Rural Capital provided the $25 million in debt financing through its USDA OneRD Business & Industry Program, with the loan originated by vice president Sean Stehr.

Anna West, president of X-Caliber Rural Capital, noted that innovative companies often face financing challenges as they scale – despite clear long-term potential.

“USDA's Business & Industry Loan Guarantee Program helps bridge that gap, and we're proud to provide the maximum financing available under the program to support Plantible Foods' continued growth and investment in rural America,” she added.