Merit, Burcon, and Nestlé announce collaborative partnership for plant-based protein ingredients

Merit Functional Foods and its technology partner Burcon NutraScience have announced they have entered into a joint development agreement (JDA) with Nestlé. The goal of the joint agreement is to develop and commercialize Merit’s novel plant protein ingredients for use in Nestlé’s plant-based foods and beverages.

The joint agreement commences a long-term relationship among the parties, covering Merit’s novel proteins. Merit is currently building its commercial-scale production facility, which is expected to be completed by the fourth quarter of 2020.

At its state-of-the-art facility, Merit will produce various plant-based protein ingredients using Burcon’s proprietary and patented extraction and purification technology. Burcon has been developing its plant-based protein technology for more than 19 years.

“Partnering with Nestlé – a global leader in food and nutrition – is a great milestone for Merit Functional Foods,” Merit Co-CEO Ryan Bracken said in a press release. “Merit has already demonstrated the impact of our novel proteins in plant-based foods. This new partnership helps build on this, and it’s a major step in developing the next generation of nutritious and delicious plant-based products that draw on the benefits of our novel proteins.”

For more information on Merit Functional Foods, visit meritfoods.com.