Südzucker’s subsidiary BENEO, a specialist in functional food ingredients, is thus expanding its plant-based protein portfolio, which was previously based on wheat and rice. Südzucker Group is thus significantly intensifying its involvement in this business area. Until the new production plant in Offstein is fully operational, the Faba beans will initially be processed at intermediate production facilities. In this way, customers will already benefit from the products in the short term.

Since the natural site conditions are particularly suitable for growing Faba beans there, Südzucker will be holding talks with farmers in the German regions Wetterau and Kassel in the coming months. The first contract areas are planned for 2023; Faba bean cultivation is to be increased to several thousand hectares in the coming years.

With its protein content of around 30 percent, the Faba bean provides a natural ingredient for the manufacture of meat and dairy alternative products, for example. Its starch content also benefits other customers in the food and animal nutrition industries. With the protein concentrate from the Faba bean, BENEO is not only serving the trend towards a plant-based nutrition, but is also making an important contribution to climate protection. The Faba bean can be grown and processed regionally and, as a legume, also binds the nitrogen present in the air for natural nutrient supply in arable farming. The planned processing plant at the Offstein site is also designed to be particularly sustainable with a low energy footprint.

About Beneo

BENEO has long-term experience in developing and producing ingredients from natural sources for food, feed and pharmaceutical products. These plant-based functional ingredients help improve the nutritional and technical properties of a wide variety of products, by supporting health and optimising taste and texture. The company’s portfolio includes functional carbohydrates from sugar beet, prebiotic chicory root fibre, plant-based proteins and speciality ingredients from rice.
Through a unique chain of expertise, including the BENEO-Institute that provides decisive insights into nutrition science and legislation, and the BENEO-Technology Center that consults in application technology, BENEO supports customers by providing ingredients that promote a healthy lifestyle in a holistic way.
Formed in 2007, BENEO is active in over 80 countries, employs more than 1000 people and has five state-of-the-art production sites in Belgium, Chile, Germany and Italy.