PoLoPo Targets Snack Sector with High-Protein Potatoes for Chip Manufacturers
PoLoPo, an Israeli deeptech company specializing in bioengineered potatoes, has announced a strategic realignment to prioritize the global snack industry. The firm’s patented high-protein potato variety—capable of delivering up to three times the protein content of conventional tubers—promises to offer chip manufacturers a clean-label, drop-in ingredient solution without requiring changes to existing processing infrastructure.
The move marks a significant milestone in PoLoPo’s commercialization roadmap, aligning its proprietary platform with the growing demand for functional snacks. Rather than relying on external protein fortification through powders or additives, PoLoPo’s approach centers on molecularly engineering the potato to synthesize protein internally. The result is a nutritionally enhanced tuber that retains traditional chip flavor and texture without added ingredients or animal-based inputs.
“This is not another highly processed protein snack with a long ingredients list,” said Dr. Maya Sapir-Mir, CEO of PoLoPo. “We make the best potatoes in the world, allowing snack makers a faster, cleaner way to meet rising demand for high-protein products.”
The technology is compatible with a wide range of potato varieties, enabling brands to preserve their core product identity while adopting PoLoPo’s platform behind the scenes. With USDA regulatory clearance anticipated by the end of 2025, PoLoPo’s potatoes are positioned for commercial deployment in the U.S. market.
“Our engineered tubers require no new processing lines, no new equipment, and no added ingredients,” Sapir-Mir explained. “It’s a true plug-and-play solution for chip producers looking to differentiate through nutrition.”
PoLoPo’s pivot follows years of R&D in molecular farming, where the company demonstrated the ability to grow animal-identical proteins in plants. While those capabilities remain central to the company’s long-term vision, the consumer-facing chip segment offers a quicker route to market adoption.
“We remain committed to molecular farming and protein ingredients,” added Sapir-Mir. “But the chips market offers speed, scale, and regulatory clarity. It’s the right first step to bring engineered potatoes to consumers, through the world’s most loved snack.”
A pilot program featuring PoLoPo’s high-protein potatoes is already in motion, and the company is actively seeking additional manufacturing and brand partners to co-develop the first generation of protein-enriched chips.
