Plant-Based Protein Innovations
Scientists discovered a plant 'trick' in hornworts that could supercharge crop yields for plant-based proteins [https://sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260311004716.htm]. Louis Dreyfus just opened a pea protein plant in Canada [https://www.foodbusinessnews.net/articles/29952-louis-dreyfus-pea-protein-plant-begins-operating].
Hornworts have a unique CO2-concentrating mechanism, a "turbocharger" for photosynthesis, that could be transferred to crops to boost yields. This mechanism involves a structure called a pyrenoid, which concentrates CO2 around the Rubisco enzyme, making it more efficient. Louis Dreyfus Company (LDC) has begun commissioning its new pea protein isolate plant in Yorkton, Saskatchewan. The facility will produce pea protein isolates, fiber, and starch for use in food and industrial applications. The plant is strategically located in one of the world's largest pea-producing regions. The hornwort CO2 concentrating mechanism simplifies CO2 pumping, potentially making it easier to engineer into crops. Installing this system in crops could increase photosynthesis by up to 60%. Researchers found the machinery was likely present in early land plants, but only hornworts retained it. LDC's pea protein plant is expected to employ approximately 60 people by the end of 2026. The facility will help meet the growing demand for plant-based proteins, driven by their non-allergen and non-GMO status. The global pea protein market is predicted to expand by over 10% annually through the end of the decade.
