Potato protein will be positioned as a sought-after alternative protein source in the plant-based ecosystem as a result of studies supporting its use as a fitness supplement and persistent strategic efforts from key producers.

Despite their controversial reputation, particularly in the fitness industry, potatoes are known to be quite nutritious in their raw form, making them a popular source of nutrition in vegan diets.

“Over the last decade, consumers have grown increasingly selective about their dietary choices and the implications they have on not just human, but environmental health. This shift in perception has added merit to the belief that vegetarian and vegan diets are more sustainable dietary options in the long run, with estimates from Plants Protein suggesting that over 2-6% of the population in the US is vegan,” according to an exclusive Global Market Insights Inc. material for Potato Busines.

One of the most important aspects of a proper vegan diet is ingredient selection; consumers are looking for authentic ingredients that fulfill their macronutrient and caloric requirements, especially when it comes to protein.

For a long time, peas, soy, and beans were the main sources of protein in plant-based food products. However, over the past few years, food companies are focusing on other vegetable sources to extract protein. With spuds emerging rapidly as a frontrunner in this regard, the potato protein industry has captured widespread interest globally.

Traditionally, potatoes have not been considered good sources of dietary protein, since they contain only around 1 – 1.5% of protein. However, the quality of protein derived from potatoes is superior to other vegetable sources, as demonstrated by various studies highlighting their high amino acid concentration and biological value, which indicate how well they can be absorbed in the body.

The high functionality of the ingredient is one of the reasons the potato protein market is growing at a rapid pace, with an expected valuation of nearly USD150m by 2027, as per estimates from the above-mentioned source’s report.

Potato Protein for Fitness

Animal protein has long been hailed as superior to plant-based sources by fitness enthusiasts, seemingly due to the high amino-acid profiles that make them ideal for muscle protein synthesis. While this is true for many plant proteins, which are deficient in one or more amino acids essential for proper muscle repair and growth, many studies are now indicating how plant-derived proteins can still trigger a strong anabolic response.

A randomized controlled study conducted by researchers at the Netherlands-based Maastricht University, for instance, has chosen potato protein as its area of focus. According to the study, the consumption of 30g of protein derived from potatoes, following rigorous resistance exercise, was able to elevate the rate of muscle protein synthesis to levels that were similar to those observed after ingestion of an equivalent amount of animal-derived milk protein.

Potato protein concentrate, in particular, is a viable source of dietary protein for fitness enthusiasts. Findings from the Maastricht University researchers have demonstrated how potato-based protein concentrate powder can be used to improve muscle protein synthesis, during post-exercise recovery as well as at rest in young, healthy males, at rates similar to those from ingestion of equivalent amounts of milk-based protein.

This supports projections from Global Market Insights Inc., which suggest that the potato protein market from the concentrates segment could depict over 4.5% growth through 2027, owing to its burgeoning reputation as a fitness supplement.

Studies like these are part of an ever-expanding body of literature dedicated to demonstrating the nutritional advantages of potatoes in exercise recovery and physical activity, which could significantly enhance the potato protein industry outlook in the long run.

Addressing Proliferating Demand for Potato Protein

The application scope of the potato crop has evolved tremendously over the years, generating strong opportunities for potato protein market growth in the modern food ecosystem. Making headway in meat alternatives, dietary alternatives, and gelatin substitutes in candies, potato protein has gained significant momentum as a functional ingredient in plant-based diets.

Manufacturers of potato-based products are using numerous strategic initiatives as a means to address the prolific rise in demand for potato protein as a result of this, with Royal Avebe, Branston, and KMC emerging as the most prominent contributors.

In July 2021, Branston, one of the largest potato distributors in the UK, announced a new project aimed at upcycling unwanted potatoes into a functional alternative protein ingredient for use in vegan food preparations.

Part of this project was the establishment of a USD7.1m facility for the extraction of the potato-based protein from low-value potatoes considered unsuitable for retail, to be used in ready-to-cook, clean-label vegetarian and vegan products.

Developed in collaboration with B-hive Innovations as the first of its kind in the UK, the Potato Protein Extraction Plant was planned as a way to improve the utilization of potato crops and mitigate food waste, whilst creating bespoke technologies for the extraction of potato protein to meet the burgeoning demand for plant-based ingredients across the UK.

With a growing consumer population seeking plant-based alternatives that suit their needs without compromising on taste and texture, potato protein solutions from companies like Royal Avebe are becoming lucrative solutions for vegan and vegetarian food manufacturers.

Avebe’s Solanic potato-based protein, especially, has become a highly coveted replacement for functional animal proteins such as gelatin, milk protein, or egg protein, creating avenues for the growth of advanced plant-based dairy, meat, and confectionary alternatives. The Solanic protein has also earned a reputation for having the lowest CO2 footprint among its other animal and plant-based counterparts. While this has proved to be beneficial to the plant-based food ecosystem as a whole, it has also led to a supply shortage in recent years.

Avebe, however, has addressed this issue with strategic plans aimed at boosting production capacity. The most recent example of this is its USD74.8m investment in its sustainability program announced in December 2021, part of which included the expansion of Solanic potato protein production-output volumes, in line with the growing demand for plant-based protein alternatives.

Modern consumers are becoming increasingly accepting of the vegan trend of late and are looking for ways to curb their meat intake. However, this transition has historically been impeded by the limited availability of nutritional ingredients like proteins, which are essential for a balanced plant-based diet. In response to this, major contenders in the potato protein market landscape, such as the Danish firm KMC, have made significant progress towards a plant-based future.

In February 2022, KMC introduced an innovative protein powder ingredient extracted from potatoes, designed to have a structure similar to meat. As the first of its kind worldwide, the textured potato protein ingredient was aimed at revolutionizing plant-based meat products, through high nutritional values and better texture.

Having replaced over 26,600 tons of animal ingredients in 2020-2021, KMC leveraged this innovation as part of its strategy to further expand the applicability of potato-based protein ingredients as viable alternatives to animal-derived food ingredients in the long run.

As a staple crop in many regions, the availability of potatoes across the globe remains strong, which may prove to be a boon for food businesses looking to expand their alternative protein portfolios beyond the conventional soy source. Potato protein is thus likely to emerge as one of the most sustainable and coveted ingredients in plant-based diets in the modern food landscape. Riding on reliable product properties such as strong emulsification, binding, and gelation, the potato protein industry outlook is slated to remain optimistic in the years to come.