Professor University of Minnesota St Paul, MN, United States
Abstract: The global protein ingredient market was valued at $38 billion USD in 2020 and is expected to grow at a rate of 10.5% from 2020 to 2028. The high demand for plant proteins is associated with an increased consumer awareness of health benefits and environmental sustainability of plant-based diets. Accordingly, the food industry is exploring functional, nutritious, and sustainably produced crops, such as pennycress, as novel sources of plant protein ingredients to aid in feeding the growing population and to address consumer demand. Pennycress (Thlaspi arvense) is a sustainable oilseed producing crop that is a novel source of plant protein. As a winter cover crop, pennycress provides several environmental benefits including soil stabilization, nutrient sequestration, and reduced nitrate leaching. This presentation will cover challenges in extraction of pennycress protein, limitations and strengths in terms of structure, function, and nutrition, and remedies for successful utilization in food systems such as extruded products for meat alternative applications.
.png)
