NextFerm gears up for 2022 launch of neutral-tasting yeast-derived vegan protein with PDCAAS score of 1.0

19-Jul-2021 - Last updated on 19-Jul-2021 at 17:50 GMT

Boaz Noy: 'We are in discussions with several potential subcontractors, in order to launch the product in 2022...' Picture credit: NextFerm Technologies

Israeli firm NextFerm Technologies – one of a flurry of players developing new protein sources from microbes - is gearing up for the 2022 commercial launch of ProteVin, a vegan, non-GMO, yeast-based protein, following successful testing at pilot scale at facilities in the US.

Samples of ProteVin produced at pilot scale were analyzed by independent laboratories, an internal team of taste testers and a potential customer, and found to match the qualities of the lab-scale product, CEO Boaz Noy told FoodNavigator-USA.

“We bring the market a water-dispersible, non-allergenic, non-GMO vegan protein with nutritional value higher than other plant-based proteins and comparable to animal-derived proteins,” added Noy, who is in discussions with several potential subcontractors about manufacturing the product at commercial scale to support a 2022 launch.

“I’ve spent 20 years in food tech, but I feel like this is the first time I’ve been at the center of the biggest trend, which is alternative protein. ProteVin is vegan, but has animal-like nutritional value, but also comes with a neutral taste and flavor, which is one of the most important factors for food companies.”

ProteVin - a neutral-tasting, off-white powdered protein, which is extracted from the yeast biomass - contains 75% protein (but could potentially go up to 83%), and has a similar nutritional value to animal protein with a PDCAAS score of 1.0, added Noy, who said ProteVin could be used in infant, sports, and adult nutrition products along with meat and dairy alternatives.

ProteVin NextFerm — ProteVin is a "water-dispersible, non-allergenic, non-GMO vegan protein with nutritional value higher than other plant-based proteins and comparable to animal-derived proteins," claims NextFerm. Picture credit: NextFerm Technologies

Super-concentrated, flavorless and odorless astaxanthin powder

NextFerm – which was founded in 2014 by former executives at functional ingredients firm Enzymotec– also makes Astaferm, an astaxanthin-based antioxidant derived from yeast that has been sold in the US since late last year through well-established brands in the US dietary supplement market, said Noy, while the company has also licensed products to global yeast giant Lallemand.

“NextFerm is focused on developing ingredients based on fermentation, specifically working with single-celled microorganisms, baker’s yeast but other yeasts as well.

“We started with products that were licensed to Lallemand, but since then we developed a super-concentrated astaxanthin powder [with self-determined GRAS status] using yeast fermentation that has been launched it in the US under several brands such as Carlson Labs and Purity Products.”

While algae-based astaxanthin has been around for some years, NextFerm’s product is “odorless and flavorless” without any marine-type flavors, claimed Noy, “which means we can incorporate it into new applications beyond soft gels such as foods and gummies.”

A potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory ingredient, astaxanthin is claimed to have a wide range of benefits spanning joint health, UV protection for skin and eye health, to sports recovery and healthy immune function, antiaging, increased energy, cognitive health and a healthy cardiovascular system.