DuPont Nutrition & Biosciences has built a new plant-based solutions portfolio designed to help food producers meet the growing demand for healthier, more sustainable foods and beverages that are meat and dairy-free.

The portfolio – described as a comprehensive launch pad for new product development – is being presented at Food Ingredients Europe 2019, where a selection of plant-based concepts will give visitors a taste of the potential.

The company notes that the global sales growth forecast for the plant-based sector is huge. As more consumers choose a flexitarian, vegetarian or vegan diet, Euromonitor estimates the market total value at USD 23 billion with growth rate close to 9%.

Among millennials, the desire for healthy and sustainable food solutions is also moving the market beyond plant-based alternatives that mimic meat or dairy, DuPont believes. The rise of fermented products is a prime example of that. Through the fermentation of numerous vegetable bases, manufacturers can create exciting new tastes and textures.

“Using our plant-based solutions, food manufacturers can redefine existing products or create entirely new categories that give consumers a wider range of choices. If the plant-based movement is to have a long-term impact on health and sustainability, we need to provide more options so consumers can quickly identify their personal preferences and speed up change in their purchasing habits,” said Sonia Huppert, Global Marketing Leader for Plant-Based Health at DuPont.

The DuPont plant-based solutions comprise a portfolio of plant proteins, cultures, probiotics, enzymes and stabilizing solutions that it says deliver all-round nutritional and functional benefits.

“We all talk about the need to secure the global food supply for the future. With our solutions, food companies can produce delicious and safe foods that are good for health and the planet today. The focus is on making even better use of resources, improving access to nutrition and exciting consumer taste buds,” said Huppert