In the United Kingdom, a collaborative initiative titled SusProt is underway, focusing on the conversion of unused broccoli into sustainable plant protein, aiming to lessen the CO2 footprint and environmental harm associated with protein production for human consumption. This venture involves the UK Agri-Tech Centre, Upcycled Plant Protein (UPP), and The James Hutton Institute (JHI), targeting the dual challenges of sourcing sustainable alternatives to animal-derived proteins and addressing farm labor and food security issues.
The project employs an automated broccoli harvester equipped with computer vision and machine learning to identify and harvest entire broccoli plants, not just the heads, using a patent-protected technology. This process allows for the conversion of previously unused plant parts into high-protein, hypoallergenic ingredients suitable for various food products, potentially including meat alternatives or reduced-meat "hybrid" items.
The necessity for this innovation stems from the labor shortages faced by British broccoli farmers, compounded by reduced labor mobility, rising wages, and adverse weather conditions, making manual harvesting a non-viable solution. This situation not only leads to significant crop waste but also contributes to increased farmgate costs, which are ultimately borne by consumers.
Moreover, the project responds to consumer demand for alternative plant-based proteins to soy, wheat, and pea, driven by health, palatability, and environmental considerations. The environmental impacts associated with the production of major non-meat proteins like soy, particularly in terms of biodiversity, water usage, deforestation, and soil erosion in countries like Brazil and Argentina, alongside the substantial "food miles" when these products are consumed in the UK, underscore the need for locally sourced, sustainable protein options.
Mark Evans, CEO at Upcycled Plant Protein, emphasized the importance of external validation for the nutritional composition and environmental benefits of their products in gaining credibility with the UK's leading food manufacturers. He also highlighted the valuable input from the agricultural community in shaping the technology to address business challenges faced by farmers.
The initiative aims to empower farmers with the Automated Selective Harvester, leveraging machine learning to improve harvest efficiency, yield, product quality, and ultimately, profitability. This technology also facilitates the collection of detailed crop data during harvest, enabling insights that can enhance productivity.
By processing the approximately 70% of the broccoli plant that is currently unused, along with other unharvested biomass, the project seeks to enable local processing, thereby reducing the need for ultra-processing and transport costs. Sue Gordon, Project Manager at the UK Agri-Tech Centre, noted the project's rapid progress and reduced capital requirements, thanks to the collaboration with the JHI and the extensive network within the UK's agricultural ecosystem.
The choice of broccoli as the focus of this initiative is based on its nutritional density and the absence of identified allergens, making it a promising source of sustainable, hypoallergenic plant protein. The community stands to benefit from this project through the production of nutritious ingredients that have a lower CO2 footprint and reduced environmental harm compared to traditional protein sources like soy, supporting local agriculture and reducing dependency on imported ingredients.
Source: Agri-Tech