ICL Food Specialties, a leading manufacturer of functional ingredient solutions, and Plantible Foods, a vertically integrated biology platform and RuBisCO ingredient producer, together introduced a clean label binding solution for plant-based meat and seafood applications. ROVITARIS® Binding Solution powered by Rubi Protein™ is a one-of-a-kind functional protein system that can replace most chemically processed binders in plant-based meat and seafood formulations without compromising the authentic taste and texture consumers crave.
The launch is part of a multi-year commercial agreement between Plantible and ICL to introduce one of the first RuBisCO-enabled ingredients into food systems. The two companies, which have been collaborating on the creation and development of new plant-based ingredient toolkits, are excited to commercialize their latest innovation.
“Plant-based protein formulators have been searching for a clean label, highly functional replacement for chemically derived binders, such as methylcellulose, for years,” says Rado Sporka, vice president of the Food Specialties Commercial Business for ICL. “In partnership with Plantible Foods, we were able to leverage our deep knowledge of proteins to create a market-leading binding solution that will allow plant-based food manufacturers to meet the needs of even the most demanding consumers.”
“This proprietary clean label binding solution is formulated with our Rubi Protein RuBisCO, the most nutritionally complete and abundant plant-based protein on earth,” adds Tony Martens, co-founder of Plantible Foods. “This highly functional, nutritious protein, derived from sustainably grown lemna, enhances the taste, texture, and nutrition of virtually any food application. Working with the team at ICL to develop and commercialize this groundbreaking solution provides a great opportunity to breathe new life into plant-based food innovation.”
The ROVITARIS Binding Solution powered by Rubi Protein has enhanced nutritional qualities, low allergenicity, and superior binding and gelling properties to meet the formulation challenges of forward-looking plant-based meat and seafood manufacturers.
This solution will be commercially available in 2024 in the United States through ICL Food Specialties and Plantible Foods.
ICL Food Specialties
ICL Food Specialties is a member of ICL Group, a leading global specialty minerals company that creates impactful solutions for humanity's sustainability challenges in the global food, agriculture, and industrial markets. ICL leverages its unique bromine, potash and phosphate resources, its global professional workforce, and its strong focus on R&D and technological innovation capabilities, to drive growth across its end markets. ICL shares are dually listed on the New York Stock Exchange and the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (NYSE and TASE: ICL). The company employs more than 12,500 people worldwide, and its 2022 revenues totaled approximately $10 billion.
About Plantible Foods
Plantible Foods is a San Diego based business-to-business biology company with the goal of evolving the food system to be more sustainable without compromise. Plantible commercializes functional ingredient toolkits with world-class ingredient companies and finished food manufacturers looking to revolutionize applications in egg-free and allergen-free baking, plant-based meat and dairy, sports and adult nutrition. Its innovations are based on the most functional and nutrition plant-based protein in the word, called Rubi Protein™ (RuBisCO). Rubi Protein is derived from lemna (also known as duckweed), one of the most sustainable and nutrient-dense plants in the world, which Plantible grows in its 100+ acre commercial production facility in Texas.
