Rift Protein BV
Rift Protein is a food-ingredient company founded in 2023 and based in Leiden Bioscience Park in the Netherlands. It develops novel food proteins with an initial focus on plant protein, aiming to replace farmed meat and dairy while supporting better health and lower climate impact. The company says it is working toward sourcing and producing in East Africa and Europe, with an extensive network in East Africa to source ingredients such as mung beans from smallholder farmers and to establish local processing facilities powered by renewable energy. Its team combines experience in food science, plant biotechnology, protein chemistry, and food product development. Core Values Health and nutrition : Rift Protein highlights mung beans as a high-quality nutritional source and links its ingredient focus to benefits such as supporting heart health, blood sugar management, satiety, and overall dietary quality. Climate impact reduction : The company explicitly frames its mission around lowering greenhouse-gas emissions and contributing to a future with a lower atmospheric CO2 level. Renewable-energy production : It targets net-zero or low-carbon production by using renewable electricity and steam, and by locating processing where renewable energy resources are available. Sustainable sourcing : Rift Protein emphasizes sourcing raw materials from smallholder farmers and using crops such as mung beans that can improve soil health, support crop rotation, and withstand drought. Unique Aspects East Africa sourcing network : The company says it has an extensive network in East Africa to source ingredients and establish local processing facilities, giving it a cross-continental sourcing and production strategy. Leiden Bioscience Park base : Rift Protein is based in Leiden Bioscience Park, which it describes as a strong environment for collaboration and idea-sharing. Renewable-energy processing ambition : It plans local processing facilities powered by renewable energy, and specifically points to Kenya’s geothermal electricity and hot water resources as part of its rationale. Multi-disciplinary founding team : Its team combines backgrounds in physiology, plant biotechnology, food science, protein chemistry, and industrial food R&D, supporting both ingredient development and application work. Future diversification into precision fermentation : While currently focused on plant protein, the company says it expects to diversify into precision fermentation over time, suggesting a broader alternative-protein platform.