With their high protein content, legumes are healthy and are now an integral part of many plant-based foods. The consumer trend toward healthy eating is causing demand for vegan foods to rise further. Seed specialist KWS Saat SE & Co. KGaA and the Berlin-based start-up company VF Nutrition GmbH, better known under the brand name vly, have now agreed a development partnership lasting several years.

Advance food development based on pea protein

The aim of the cooperation is to drive forward the development of foods based on pea protein. "As a seed producer, we can contribute to the development of foods from the outset - for example, in improving taste, processing quality and texture," explains Nigel Moore, Head of Nutritional Food Ingredients at KWS. The company says it started breeding yellow peas back in the 1980s and is now the market leader in France, the largest and most important pea market in Europe.

Plant genetic trait adaptation in breeding expanded

Through the collaboration with vly, the seed specialist aims to broaden the focus of its breeding work. In the future, in addition to yield, resource efficiency and robustness, the adaptation of plant genetic traits for use as a plant food ingredient will also play a role in breeding.

Since 2020, the Berlin-based start-up VF Nutrition has been developing milk alternatives primarily based on pea protein - including milk and yogurt alternatives as well as protein shakes. The vly brand products are established not only in Germany, but also in Austria and the Netherlands.

Development of innovative milk alternatives

"Our collaboration aims to leverage knowledge and methods from molecular biology, bioinformatics, sensory science and food technology to drive innovation and sustainable change in the field of milk alternatives, particularly pea-based ones, and provide consumers with healthy, nutritious and tasty products," says Anna Birke, Senior Fermentation Scientist and Innovation Manager at vly.

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