Famous for its distinctive, vivid yellow colour, the canola plant (also known as rapeseed) is the world’s third leading source of vegetable oil. But it’s now also being used to create a whole new generation of healthy and sustainable plant-based products – with an appetising texture and taste.
Vertis CanolaPRO is not like other plant-based proteins. For a start, it’s created via a patented DSM-Firmenich process that extracts the leftover protein-rich 'cake' (or meal) that was traditionally a side stream used either for agricultural fertiliser or animal feed.
As a result, this unique ingredient is now officially recognised by the Upcycled Certified Program as being the only commercially available upcycled protein with a nutritionally complete PDCAAS = 1 rating. In fact, this non-GMO, 90% native protein isolate contains all the essential amino acids; and it’s free from major allergens (dairy, gluten, soy); kosher and halal; and created from EU-sourced seeds.
A game-changer in sports nutrition
One key area of opportunity for Vertis CanolaPRO lies in the sports nutrition segment – where the vegan protein powder market alone is forecast to reach $8.8 billion by 2032; and vegan protein bars are expected to grow with a CAGR of 18% from 2023 to 2033. The key for manufacturers looking to tap into this opportunity? The ability to provide vegan sports nutrition products that taste good, feel good – and provide both the right quantity and quality of protein.
In ready-to-mix and ready-to-drink protein drinks, for example, Vertis CanolaPRO is helping to create winning, protein-packed products that taste great – without the aftertaste, lumps and grittiness that consumers so often associate with them.
Meanwhile, in nutritional bars, Vertis CanolaPRO provides appetising texture and high nutrition – to the point where the professional Team DSM-Firmenich PostNL cycling team now uses the product to help drive tangible improvements in key areas like focus, endurance, resilience and recovery.
Delicious dairy, fish and meat alternatives
Beyond sports nutrition, Vertis CanolaPRO is ideal for plant-based dairy thanks to its high solubility (even at low pH), good emulsifying properties and gelling behaviour. It can therefore be easily blended into plant-based milk, yogurt and ice cream alternatives to deliver a smooth, creamy mouthfeel and neutral taste.
It can also be used in meat and fish alternatives to improve the texturization of other ingredients – for example, legume proteins, in both wet and dry extrusion. The result: an improved bite and greater resilience that resembles real meat – in everything from plant-based burgers and sausages to vegan salmon cakes, crab meat and tinned tuna.
Bringing progress to life
Vertis CanolaPRO is just one of many nutritious, delicious, sustainable and label-friendly solutions from DSM-Firmenich that are all based on one simple premise: today’s consumers shouldn’t have to choose between what tastes good, what feels good, and what’s good for them – and the planet.
Vertis CanolaPRO is proof positive that it’s possible to tick all three boxes: and bring progress to life for plant-based brands and consumers everywhere.
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