Enough announces new mycoprotein production site

17-Sep-2021 - Last updated on 17-Sep-2021 at 12:32 GMT

Enough hoped to increase mycoprotein capacity at the new site to 50k tonnes by 2027

Glasgow food tech company Enough has announced it has begun construction of a ‘first of its kind’ protein factory, targeted as the largest non-animal protein farm to be built worldwide in 2022.

The 15,000m²facility is to be co-located alongside the Cargill factory in Sas van Grent in the Netherlands and will produce Enough’s Abunda mycoprotein – fermenting fungi using renewable feedstocks to make a sustainable source of food protein.

The investment will initially create 25 new jobs and this will double with plans for more than 50,000 tonnes of capacity by 2027.

Scalable technology

Jim Laird, chief executive of Enough, said: “Demand for non-animal protein is forecast to grow at 15,000 tonnes per day for the next 5,000 days. Enough uses technology which is scalable today to contribute towards this protein transition, and work with customers who share our hunger and passion for great tasting products that taste as good as and cost not more than the animal alternative.

“We are extremely privileged to have the support from the Bio-Based industries Joint Undertaking and the strength of some amazing collaborative partners in Project Plenitude to help address this.”

The new facility is one of 11 flagship projects supported by the circular Bio Based Europe Joint Undertaking – a public-private partnership between the EU and the Bio-based Industries Consortium – and has received €16.9m (£14.4m) in funding as part of project Plentitude.

Global demand

Franck Monmont, managing director for Cargill’s starches, sweeteners and texturizers business in Europe added: “As global demand for protein continues to rise, this collaboration with ENOUGH serves as another avenue to help realize our mission of nourishing the world in a safe, responsible and sustainable way.

“At Cargill, we are committed to bringing alternative and traditional protein source options to the table. We see Enough’s mycoprotein as a valuable and sustainable alternative source of protein and are looking forward to our collaboration in the years to come.”

Meanwhile, Quorn Foods CEO Marco Bertacca urged the alternative protein industry to work together to tackle environmental destruction at this year’s Future Food-Tech Summit.