Market Minds Advisory
Novel Plant Protein (Borage & Emerging Crops) Market

Novel Plant Protein (Borage & Emerging Crops) Market: Novel Plant Protein (Borage & Emerging Crops) Market. Press Cake Valorisation, Duckweed and Rapeseed Isolates and Novel Food Approvals

Novel plant proteins from borage press cake, duckweed, rapeseed, hemp and other crops promise supply diversity beyond soy and pea, but anti-nutrients, uneven approvals and small volumes make purification cost and regulatory proof decisive.

Lead Analyst

Published

September 2026

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2025 MARKET VALUE$0.6BMarket Size 2025
2036 FORECAST VALUE$2.1BBase Case , 2026 to 2036
CAGR 2026 TO 203612.0 %Bull 13.3% / Bear 10.7%
INCREMENTAL OPPORTUNITY$1.4BNet 10- year value creation
EXPANSION MULTIPLE3.11x2036 value over 2026 base
Strategic Levers
M&A Pipeline
Regional Outlook
Country Rankings
Competitive Intelligence
Segmental Deep-dive
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Executive Snapshot and Market Trajectory.

Novel plant proteins come from crops and by-products that food has barely used, including borage seed press cake, duckweed, rapeseed, hemp, camelina and leaf protein. Buyers want alternatives to soy and pea, but raw material volumes are small, and each new source needs safety proof. Buyers ask for proof.
Duckweed and Aquatic Plant Protein grows fastest as start-ups grow fast-cycle plants in tanks and sell mild, high-protein concentrates, while rapeseed and oilseed press cake proteins still carry the largest volume. North America holds the largest share because Canadian canola crushers and American start-ups supply most ingredients, with Western Europe close behind on protein strategy policy. Approvals decide who sells. Pricing follows scale. Retailers add reach.
Competition is fragmented, with ingredient groups, oilseed processors and venture-backed start-ups competing on purity, functionality and safety dossiers. Novel food approvals in the European Union and United Kingdom, GRAS notices in the United States, allergen labelling for mustard-related proteins and limits on anti-nutrients shape entry, and buyers audit protein content, contaminants and batch consistency before they approve any novel source for launches. Compliance cost favours larger suppliers. Approvals take years. Audits repeat yearly.
Market Definition
The market covers global sales of protein ingredients made from emerging or underused crops and by-products, including borage and camelina press cake, hemp, sunflower and other oilseed protein, rapeseed and canola isolates, duckweed and other aquatic plant proteins, lupin, quinoa and amaranth proteins and leaf proteins, sold to food, beverage and nutrition makers. It excludes soy, pea, wheat, rice and mainstream pulse proteins, animal and insect proteins, fungal proteins and whole grain flours.
Base Year Value
$0.6B in 2025 (MMA Primary Research Dataset, September 2026)
Forecast Period
2026 to 2036, eleven discrete annual values
CAGR
12.0% base case. Bull 13.3%. Bear 10.7%.
Fastest Growth Segment
Duckweed and Aquatic Plant Protein: 16.8% CAGR
Fastest Growth Country
Canada: 14.5% CAGR
Fastest Growth Region
South Asia and Pacific: 14.1% CAGR
Largest Region
North America: 32% of 2025 global value
Market Leaders
DSM-Firmenich, Burcon NutraScience, Plantible Foods, Roquette, Ingredion. Source: MMA Analysis, company annual reports.
Primary Survey
n=3,800 procurement and R&D decision-makers, Q4 2025, six countries
Methodology
Demand-side build-up, cross-validated against public data, 47 expert interviews

Novel Plant Protein (Borage & Emerging Crops) Market Forecast Scenarios

novel-plant-protein-borage-and-emerging-crops-mark-size-forecast-scenario-1789969837469
Between 2020 and 2025 the market grew at about 11.0% a year from a small base, helped by supply diversification after grain and oilseed shocks, launches of rapeseed and duckweed proteins and investment in fractionation plants in Europe and North America. Growth slowed in 2023 when plant-based demand cooled and funding tightened. Rapeseed isolates gained share over smaller crops.
The base case rests on three commercial mechanisms. First, food makers seek proteins beyond soy and pea for allergen, supply and taste reasons, and novel sources give them differentiation. Second, oilseed processors valorise press cake into food-grade protein, adding revenue from existing crushing volumes. Third, regulators clarify approval pathways, opening the market to new plant sources. Producers plan crops, fractionation and dossiers around these drivers, and buyers reward functional performance and consistent supply.
The bull case reaches 13.3% if several new sources win approval, rapeseed and duckweed proteins reach cost parity with pea and large food groups adopt them in mainstream launches. The bear case falls to 10.7% if approvals stall, start-ups fail to reach scale and pea and soy keep the price advantage. Both cases assume stable crop supply and no new tariffs.

Approval Status, Anti-Nutrient Control and Press Cake Access Set Novel Plant Protein Returns

Soy and pea dominate plant protein, but both face allergen, flavour and supply concerns, and a group of alternative sources is emerging. Borage and camelina are grown for oil, and their press cake holds 30% or more protein that is rarely used in food. Duckweed grows in tanks and doubles quickly. Rapeseed yields protein isolates with strong gelling and foaming. Each source needs its own purification and safety file.
MARKET CONCENTRATION32% CR5Top five suppliers hold about a third of category sales
ISOLATE PROTEIN CONTENT85-90%Typical protein share in rapeseed and duckweed isolates
BORAGE PRESS CAKE PROTEIN30%Approximate protein share in borage seed meal after oil pressing
RAPESEED SHARE46%Portion of category value from rapeseed and canola proteins
RAW BIOMASS COST SHARE30% of COGSPress cake and plant biomass within total production cost
CONTRACT LENGTH1-3 yearsTypical supply agreement term for food manufacturer customers
Value pools sit in three places. Rapeseed and canola protein isolates carry the largest volume, used in plant-based dairy, bakery and meat alternatives. Duckweed and aquatic plant proteins carry the fastest growth and premium prices, with mild flavour and high digestibility. Oilseed press cake proteins from borage, hemp, camelina and sunflower add a value-added pool for crushers, and each needs its own approval and functional evidence.
Supply is small but growing. Canadian and European crushers hold canola and sunflower press cake, borage and camelina are grown on limited hectares in the United Kingdom, Canada, Poland and Chile, and duckweed plants are being built in North America, Europe and Israel. Fractionation and purification decide cost, and buyers hold two to three months of stock. Approvals take years.
"Novel plant proteins are an exercise in patience and purification. The crops are real and the proteins are good, but every new source drags an approval file, an anti-nutrient problem and a small supply base behind it. The winners will be those who solve those three things before their money runs out."
Senior Analyst, Plant Protein and Oilseed Ingredients Practice · MMA Novel Plant Protein from Borage and Emerging Crops Practice · September 2026

Market Trends

Duckweed and Aquatic Plants Emerge as Fast-Growing Mild Protein Sources

Duckweed, also called lemna or water lentil, doubles in mass within days in shallow tanks, and dried concentrates hold 40% to 65% protein with a mild taste and good digestibility, while isolates such as Plantible's Rubi protein target 85% or more. Duckweed and Aquatic Plant Protein grows about 16.8% a year, and gross margins run 32% to 48%. The trend needs consistent tank yield, oxalate and heavy metal control and approvals in each market, and it rewards producers with proprietary growth systems, food safety data and offtake agreements, while capital cost and energy for tanks limit scale for now.
Market Impact: buyers qualify 2-3 proteins each

Rapeseed and Canola Isolates Turn Oilseed By-Products Into Functional Ingredients

Crushers have long sold rapeseed meal as feed, and new extraction processes now recover food-grade cruciferin and napin proteins that gel, foam and emulsify well, with rapeseed protein isolate authorised as a novel food in the European Union. Rapeseed and Canola Protein Isolates grow about 14.4% a year, and gross margins run 30% to 44%. The trend needs low glucosinolate and phytate levels, consistent flavour and cost close to pea isolate, and it favours producers with crushing integration and application data, while food makers weigh mustard-family allergen concerns and label clarity. Egg alternatives lead demand.
Market Impact: EU imports 65% of plant protein

Market Opportunities and Growth Drivers

Food Makers Seek Protein Supply Beyond Soy and Pea

Soy is a major allergen and often faces non-GMO and deforestation questions, and pea supply and prices swung after drought in Canada and disruption in Europe. Food makers now want several protein sources so that no single crop controls their costs. The driver sustains trial of novel sources and rewards suppliers with consistent quality, approvals and secure raw material, while procurement teams qualify two or three plant proteins per product family and buyers pay premiums for allergen-friendly, non-soy options that offer clean labels and reliable supply through several harvests. Diversification also lowers exposure to single-crop price swings.
Market Impact: novel dossiers cost $0.8-3 million each

European and North American Strategies Support Domestic Novel Crops

The European Union imports most of its plant protein and has set out protein strategies and funding for domestic crops, while Canada and the United States support canola, hemp and pulse processing and investors back new fractionation plants. The driver sustains public funding for pilot plants and field trials, and it rewards producers with grower contracts, regional supply and traceable origin, while local supply chains reduce freight and geopolitical risk and let crushers add value to press cake instead of selling it cheaply as feed to livestock customers. Pilot plants and field trials are attracting private capital as well.
Market Impact: novel proteins cost 1.5-3x pea

Market Restraints and Challenges

Novel Food Approvals and Safety Data Slow New Plant Sources

New plant sources need novel food authorisation in the European Union and the United Kingdom and GRAS notices in the United States, and dossiers take years and cost $0.8 million to $3 million each. The root cause is thorough assessment of allergens, anti-nutrients and contaminants. Producers wait before selling, and small raw material volumes make dossier cost hard to recover. Producers respond with shared toxicology data, early regulator meetings and staged launches, though timelines remain uncertain and approvals differ between markets. Regulators also ask for compositional data, so sponsors run repeated batch analyses before filing.
Market Impact: aquatic plant protein grows 16.8% yearly

Anti-Nutrients, Off-Flavours and Small Supply Keep Cost Above Pea

Rapeseed contains glucosinolates and phytate, duckweed can accumulate oxalate and heavy metals, and borage and hemp press cakes carry fibre and flavour that limit direct use, so purification is needed. The root cause is plant chemistry and small crop volumes. Novel proteins cost 1.5 to 3 times pea per kilogram, and buyers use them in premium lines only. Producers respond with better extraction, breeding for low anti-nutrient varieties and larger plants, though capital is scarce and scale takes years. Some producers also blend novel proteins with pea to hide flavour, which lowers the premium they can charge.
Market Impact: rapeseed isolates grow 14.4% yearly
3 additional market trends, 2 additional growth drivers, and 4 additional restraints and challenges are covered in the full report. Contact sales@marketmindsadvisory.com to access the complete intelligence.

Segment CAGR and Growth Architecture

The global novel plant protein market is segmented by crop group, which shows where approvals, anti-nutrient control and raw material access create pricing power. Five segments cover duckweed and aquatic plant protein, rapeseed and canola isolates, oilseed press cake proteins including borage, lupin and other legume proteins, and pseudocereal and leaf proteins. Duckweed grows fastest; rapeseed carries most volume.
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Duckweed and Aquatic Plant Protein

Duckweed and Aquatic Plant Protein is the fastest-growing segment at 16.8% a year, about 1.40 times the overall market rate, from a small base. Producers grow duckweed in shallow tanks with controlled nutrients and harvest it daily, and concentrates and isolates offer mild taste, high digestibility and complete amino acids, so gross margins of 32% to 48% support new plants. Cost, oxalate and heavy metal control and approvals decide adoption, and producers with proprietary growth systems, food safety data and offtake agreements win the largest launches. Plants in North America, Europe and Israel scale up, and food makers value consistent quality, water efficiency and the low land use of aquatic crops.
CAGR 16.8%

Rapeseed and Canola Protein Isolates

Rapeseed and Canola Protein Isolates grows at 14.4% a year, about 1.20 times the overall market rate, because canola crushers and ingredient groups recover cruciferin and napin proteins that gel, foam and emulsify well, and brands accept gross margins of 30% to 44% for plant-based dairy, egg alternatives and bakery. Rapeseed protein isolate holds novel food authorisation in the European Union, and Canadian and European crushers supply raw material. Low glucosinolate, consistent flavour and price near pea decide selection, while mustard-family allergen concerns require clear labelling. Suppliers with crushing integration, application labs and approvals win the largest contracts. Sustainability stories help premium positioning. Egg alternative makers especially value the binding strength it offers.
CAGR 14.4%
Full segment breakdown across 5 segments available in the complete report.

Regional Architecture and Country Demand Map

North America leads at 32% because Canadian canola crushers and American start-ups supply most novel proteins, with Western Europe at 30% on protein strategy policy and rapeseed and borage supply. South Asia and Pacific grows fastest. East Asia and Middle East and Africa trail their bands.

North America

North America holds 32% share, at the top of its band, with growth at the global rate of 12.0%. Canada is the world's largest canola exporter, and Burcon NutraScience, Ingredion and start-ups such as Plantible Foods develop rapeseed, duckweed and other proteins, while American hemp and sunflower processors supply press cake proteins. FDA GRAS notices and Canadian novel food rules shape approvals, and food makers test novel sources in dairy alternatives and bakery. Funding tightened after 2023, retailers cut shelf space for slow sellers, and price gaps to pea restrain volume. Mexico is counted in Latin America, and university programmes support field trials. Regional buyers also ask for traceable origin and supply contracts covering several harvests.
Share: 32% | CAGR: 12.0% (2026 to 2036)

Western Europe

Western Europe holds 30% share, above its band, which justifies the out-of-band share: DSM-Firmenich in the Netherlands makes rapeseed protein isolate, Roquette in France and Denmark's processors supply plant proteins, borage and camelina are grown in the United Kingdom and Europe, and the European Union protein strategy funds domestic sources. Because North America and Western Europe take the top two slots, the commercial reason is that both combine oilseed crushing, food ingredient research and novel food regulators with clear pathways, which Asia lacks at scale. Growth trails the global rate at 10.4%, while approval timelines and cost restrain margins. Retailers in Germany and the United Kingdom also push suppliers toward verified sustainability data.
Share: 30% | CAGR: 10.4% (2026 to 2036)
Regional intelligence for 5 additional markets available in the complete report: East Asia, South Asia and Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa, Eastern Europe. Contact sales@marketmindsadvisory.com.
novel-plant-protein-borage-and-emerging-crops-mark-country-cagr-analysis-1789969838081

Four Margin Routes for Novel Plant Protein Producers

Margin in novel plant proteins comes from approved sources, purification quality, integration with oilseed crushing and application support rather than crop novelty alone. The routes below apply to crushers, start-ups and ingredient groups, and each can start inside one planning cycle, with clear measures in gross margin points, cost per kilogram and contract length. Payback runs three to four years.

Filing Novel Food and GRAS Dossiers Early With Shared Data

Approval is the gating factor for new sources, so producers that begin dossiers early, hold pre-submission meetings with regulators and share toxicology and allergen data cut time to market by 12 to 24 months and win first-mover contracts worth 12% to 20% of output. Dossiers cost $0.8 million to $3 million each. Producers should invest in anti-nutrient and heavy metal testing, allergen assessment and consumer studies, since safety credibility supports approval and buyer trust and delays cost more than the dossier itself in a market where funding is selective. Early filings also attract partners and investors.
Market Impact: early dossiers cut time to market by 12-24 months

Integrating Protein Recovery Into Oilseed Crushing to Valorise Press Cake

Crushers already hold press cake at low cost, so those that add food-grade extraction and purification lines recover protein worth several times the feed value and improve net margin by three to six points. Lines cost $15 million to $60 million. Crushers should begin with canola, sunflower and borage or camelina streams, secure grower contracts for low-anti-nutrient varieties and sign offtake agreements before construction, since integrated producers hold a cost advantage over stand-alone start-ups and buyers reward secure supply through crop cycles. Co-products improve plant economics. Integration also reduces freight and handling losses for meal.
Market Impact: integrated recovery improves net margin by 3-6 points

Scaling Duckweed Tank Systems With Energy Efficiency and Contaminant Control

Duckweed protein needs lower cost and consistent quality, so producers that build larger tank systems, use waste heat or low-cost power and control heavy metals and oxalate cut cost per kilogram of protein by 20% to 35% and win contracts worth 12% to 20% of output. Plants cost $10 million to $50 million. Producers should stage capacity in phases, secure nutrient sources near the site and publish contaminant data, since financing depends on volume certainty and buyers reward producers that show credible cost curves and safe, consistent lots. Phased builds also let producers adjust design as yields improve.
Market Impact: scaled duckweed systems cut cost per kilogram by 20-35%

Building Application Labs for Dairy Alternative, Egg Alternative and Bakery

Food makers choose proteins they can test in their own recipes, so producers that build application labs, publish gel, foam and solubility data and offer ready formulas for milks, egg alternatives and bakery win launches worth 10% to 18% of new product volume. Labs cost $1 million to $3.5 million. Producers should begin with the two formats that already attract launches, share sensory panels with technical teams and offer trial lots, since formulators qualify few suppliers and rarely switch after launch and faster launches raise pull-through volume. Labs also shorten sampling cycles for new customers.
Market Impact: application labs win launches worth 10-18% of volume

Who Controls the Margin Pool

The global novel plant protein market is fragmented, with a CR5 of 32%, because ingredient groups, oilseed processors and start-ups all hold shares in different crop groups. This assessment measures participants on estimated novel plant protein ingredient sales value, held constant across all players. DSM-Firmenich and Burcon NutraScience lead through rapeseed isolate technology, while Plantible Foods, Roquette and Ingredion follow through duckweed and pulse-adjacent portfolios, and the gap between the leader and the fifth player is moderate.
Competition runs on four dimensions today: approval status, purification quality, cost per kilogram of protein and functional performance. Ingredient groups win on scale and application support, start-ups win on novel source science, and crushers win on raw material access. Buyers compare cost against pea, and failed audits, anti-nutrient results or supply gaps can remove a source from a product within one cycle.

Emerging pressure comes from crushers adding protein recovery, from hemp and sunflower protein producers and from Asian processors seeking approval abroad. Rankings shift where a producer wins a new approval, commissions a plant or signs a large food group contract, and consolidation among start-ups continues as capital tightens and cost curves become clearer.
novel-plant-protein-borage-and-emerging-crops-mark-company-positioning-matrix-1789969838381

Competitive Moat and Risk Dimensions

DSM-FIRMENICH

Moat: Rapeseed Isolate Technology and Reach

DSM-Firmenich, the Swiss-Dutch nutrition and flavour group, produces CanolaPRO rapeseed protein isolate at a plant in the Netherlands and sells it to plant-based dairy, bakery and nutrition brands. Its process technology, novel food authorisation, application labs and global customer base give it an advantage in scaling rapeseed protein, and its position supports launches with technical support and regulatory documents.
DSM-FIRMENICH

Risk: Portfolio Focus and Price Pressure

DSM-Firmenich reshapes its portfolio across many businesses, so investment in novel proteins may compete with other priorities. Pea and soy remain cheaper, and start-ups with new sources can move faster, while volumes of rapeseed isolate depend on plant-based food demand that cooled in recent years.
BURCON NUTRASCIENCE

Moat: Canola Protein Patents and Know-How

Burcon NutraScience, a Canadian protein technology company, holds patents and process know-how for canola, pea and soy protein isolates and licenses or supplies proteins through partners and its own plant capacity. Its patent portfolio, purification expertise and food safety file give it an advantage in functional plant proteins, and its position supports partnerships with ingredient groups seeking novel sources.
BURCON NUTRASCIENCE

Risk: Scale and Funding Constraints

Burcon NutraScience is small compared with global ingredient groups, so scaling plants requires capital and partners. Patent expiries and competing processes could weaken its position, and weak plant-based demand can delay customer launches and payments. Any delay in new plants or approvals would push customers toward larger rivals.

Players Tracked

Prominent Players

DSM-Firmenich
Burcon NutraScience
Plantible Foods
Roquette
Ingredion

Other Key Players

Cargill
ADM
Cosucra
Emsland Group
Puris
Parabel
Hinoman
Nutriati
InnovoPro
Bunge
Fuji Oil
Kerry Group
Glanbia Nutritionals
Axiom Foods
Sotexpro

Recent Developments

JANUARY 2026

Plantible Foods Announces Commercial Duckweed Protein Plant Expansion and Offtake Agreements With Food Groups

Plantible Foods announced a commercial duckweed protein plant expansion and offtake agreements with food groups, according to company communications. It is an organic capacity expansion, not an acquisition, and it tests demand for aquatic plant protein. The plan covers tank capacity and quality systems. Investment terms were not disclosed.
Signal: Confirms duckweed producers are moving to commercial scale because food groups want mild, high-protein novel ingredients.
FEBRUARY 2026

DSM-Firmenich Signs Supply Agreement for Rapeseed Protein Isolate With European Plant-Based Dairy Manufacturer

DSM-Firmenich signed a supply agreement for rapeseed protein isolate with a European plant-based dairy manufacturer, according to company communications. It is a supply agreement, not an acquisition, and it tests contract demand. The agreement covers annual volumes, quality audits and price formulas. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Signal: Shows rapeseed isolate is winning dairy alternative contracts because gelling and foaming performance is hard to match.
MARCH 2026

Burcon NutraScience Announces Partnership to Expand Canola Protein Production Capacity in North America

Burcon NutraScience announced a partnership to expand canola protein production capacity in North America, according to company communications. It is a partnership, not an acquisition, and it tests scale-up economics. The plan covers plant design and crusher supply. Financial terms were not disclosed. Timelines remain open.
Signal: Indicates technology owners are partnering with crushers because raw material access and plant capital decide scale.

What Drives Novel Plant Protein Costs

Press cake, meal and plant biomass account for roughly 30% of production cost, extraction and purification processing about 26%, energy and drying about 14%, packaging and freight about 8%, and overheads, research and marketing about 22%. Canola meal comes from Canada and Europe, sunflower from Ukraine, Russia and Europe, borage and camelina from the United Kingdom, Canada and Chile, and duckweed from tank plants in North America, Europe and Israel.
The clearest recent shock came in 2022. USDA Foreign Agricultural Service oilseeds reports and Statistics Canada data show canola and sunflower prices surging after the war in Ukraine and drought in Canada, and MMA Estimate from expert interviews indicates that press cake and meal prices rose 25% to 45% while energy costs also rose. Producers absorbed part of the increase, delayed expansion and secured price adjustments from customers slowly.

The disadvantage falls on producers without integrated crushing, grower contracts or energy contracts, because they cannot pass through swings on annual food contracts and cannot survive cash shortages. Exposure also varies by source: rapeseed producers face crop and oil price swings, while duckweed producers face energy and nutrient cost and borage and camelina producers face very small volumes.
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Grower Contracts and Multi-Crop Sourcing

Producers sign contracts with growers and crushers for canola, sunflower, borage and camelina meal and qualify several sources. These steps cut exposure to input spikes of 25% to 45%. The main challenge is variable protein and anti-nutrient levels, so producers set specifications, test every lot and reward low-anti-nutrient varieties. Audits repeat yearly. Sampling occurs every delivery.

Process Efficiency and Yield Improvement

Producers invest in better extraction, membrane filtration and drying to raise protein recovery by 8% to 15% and cut energy per tonne by 10% to 20%. The main challenge is capital cost and validation, since process changes need identity and safety checks, so larger producers lead, while smaller producers share pilot capacity with partners. Payback usually arrives within four years.

Long-Term Energy Contracts and Heat Recovery

Producers sign multi-year contracts for power and gas and install heat recovery and renewable power to lower energy cost per tonne of protein. These steps cut exposure to spikes of 20% to 40%. The main challenge is volume commitment when demand grows slowly, so larger producers lead, while smaller producers buy spot and accept more volatility. Audits repeat yearly.

Portfolio Architecture for Margin Defence

Margins run from moderate returns on oilseed press cake proteins sold in volume to strong returns on duckweed and rapeseed isolates sold with approvals and application support. Three tiers separate volume products, premium certified lines and next-generation solutions, and each tier draws on different raw material access, purification skills and regulatory files in a fragmented market with limited price transparency below the leading suppliers.
The tension between volume and premium is sharp. Press cake proteins and concentrates fill bakery and feed-adjacent orders at low prices but face constant competition from pea and soy, while isolates from duckweed and rapeseed earn higher margins on smaller volumes and depend on approvals, scale and functionality. Producers that run only volume struggle when commodity prices fall, while premium-only producers struggle to reach scale. Mix management decides which risk dominates each year.

High-value pools concentrate in duckweed proteins for premium clean-label products and in rapeseed isolates for dairy and egg alternatives. They gather where buyers pay for approved status, mild flavour and functionality, not for the crop name alone. Lupin and leaf proteins add smaller pools, and strong producers hold more than one, though each needs different regulatory and technical skills.

Volume / Commodity-Adjacent

Press cake proteins and concentrates from borage, hemp, sunflower and canola sold in volume to bakery, snack and blended product makers. Buyers focus on price per kilogram of protein, contracts follow crop prices, and technical differentiation is limited.
Gross Margin: 16%-26%

Premium / Certified

Lupin, quinoa and leaf protein concentrates with certified protein content, anti-nutrient limits and third-party testing, sold to health and specialty brands. Buyers value consistency, safety files and audit records, and contracts run for one to two years.
Gross Margin: 26%-40%

Sustainability / Regulatory / Next-Generation

Duckweed and rapeseed isolates with approvals, application data and life cycle results, sold to leading dairy alternative, egg alternative and nutrition brands. Contracts run for several years and depend on approval status, functionality and supply security.
Gross Margin: 30%-48%
novel-plant-protein-borage-and-emerging-crops-mark-portfolio-architecture-1789969839081

High-value Sub-segments and Strategic Watch-out

Duckweed and Aquatic Plant Protein

Duckweed and aquatic plant protein combines the fastest growth with strong pricing, since brands want mild, digestible, novel proteins and pay gross margins of 32% to 48% for approved products. Proprietary growth systems, contaminant control and approvals limit competition, and producers with offtake agreements win the largest launches.
Gross Margin: 32%-48%

Rapeseed and Canola Protein Isolates

Rapeseed and canola protein isolates deliver firm growth and pricing, since dairy alternative and egg alternative makers accept gross margins of 30% to 44% for gelling and foaming performance. Novel food authorisation, crushing integration and low anti-nutrient levels form the entry barrier, and application labs decide who stays qualified.
Gross Margin: 30%-44%

Oilseed Press Cake Proteins

Oilseed press cake proteins are the volume core for crushers valorising borage, hemp, camelina and sunflower meal. Value grows about 13.0% a year, and raw material access, purification yield and delivery reliability decide profit. Producers anchor sales on long relationships, and customers renew yearly at prices linked to crop indices.
Gross Margin: 16%-28%

Pseudocereal and Leaf Proteins

Pseudocereal and leaf proteins are the strategic watch-out, since growth of about 10.0% a year trails the leaders, raw material is limited and approvals are early. Producers should manage these lines selectively and steer investment toward duckweed and rapeseed isolates with clearer buyers and stronger contracts.
Gross Margin: 22%-36%

Why Food Makers Rarely Switch Proteins

Novel plant protein demand behaves like an annuity attached to recipes, safety dossiers and label claims. Once a food maker qualifies a novel protein after functional trials and audits, reorders follow every month, and switching means new trials, label changes and approval questions. Buyers set annual volume plans around production schedules, so suppliers with approved sources and reliable quality earn steady volume and priority allocation. Trust, once earned, is slow to lose.
Adoption stickiness differs by end-use vertical. Dairy alternative and egg alternative makers are the deepest, since protein functionality is central to product performance and reformulation is costly. Bakery and nutrition buyers are moderately sticky, driven by taste and cost. Blended and specialty product buyers are more fluid, changing proteins when a new source or price appears, though approved suppliers with proven quality hold contracts for several years.

Buyer profiles are shifting between generations. Older purchasing teams bought plant protein by content and price, while newer teams ask for allergen status, approval documents and carbon footprint per kilogram. Regulators and retailers add a third group that sets safety and label expectations. Suppliers that publish approval status and life cycle data win newer buyers.
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MMA Verdict on Novel Protein Strategy

These are among the four positions where our research anticipates prominent divergence between winners and laggards over the coming forecast period. Each is grounded in the demand model, the regulatory perimeter, and the announced capacity pipeline.
01 / NOVEL APPROVAL STRATEGY

File Novel Food and GRAS Dossiers Early Before Approval Queues Lengthen

Duckweed and Aquatic Plant Protein grows at 16.8% a year, about 1.40 times the overall market rate, but new sources need authorisation before sale. Producers should invest $0.8 million to $3 million per dossier, hold pre-submission regulator meetings and share safety data, cutting time to market by 12 to 24 months. Those that delay will lose first-mover contracts over the next two years, while prepared producers hold approvals, buyer trust and customer contracts across every review cycle and every buyer audit.
02 / PRESS CAKE VALORISATION STRATEGY

Integrate Protein Recovery Into Crushing Before Stand-Alone Start-Ups Capture Oilseed Streams

Crushers hold press cake at low cost, and adding food-grade extraction lines improves net margin by three to six points. Crushers should invest $15 million to $60 million in extraction and purification, secure grower contracts for low-anti-nutrient varieties and sign offtake agreements before construction. Those that delay will lose raw material and customers to integrated rivals over the next two years, while early movers hold cost advantages, supply security and buyer confidence across every crop cycle and annual contract review.
03 / DUCKWEED SCALE STRATEGY

Scale Duckweed Systems With Energy Efficiency Before Pea Holds the Price Advantage

Duckweed protein needs lower cost and consistent quality, and larger tank systems with cheap energy and contaminant control cut cost per kilogram by 20% to 35%. Producers should invest $10 million to $50 million per plant in staged phases, secure nutrient sources near the site and publish contaminant data. Those that delay will stay in premium niches over the next two years, while early movers reach mainstream launches, lower cost and stronger negotiating power with large food groups, retailers and investors alike.
04 / APPLICATION SUPPORT STRATEGY

Build Application Labs Before Formulators Lock In Rival Proteins for Dairy Alternatives

Food makers choose proteins they can test in their own recipes, and application labs win launches worth 10% to 18% of new product volume. Producers should invest $1 million to $3.5 million in labs, gel, foam and solubility data and ready formulas for milks, egg alternatives and bakery. Those that delay will lose formulations over the next two years, while early movers hold approvals, customer trust and premium prices across every launch cycle, sampling round, pilot trial and annual supplier review.

Engagement Snapshot From the Field

A live engagement with an industry participant carrying material or product regulatory and market exposure ahead of a defining policy shift, showing how our research translates into a defensible multi-year portfolio strategy.
MARKET MINDS ADVISORY · CLIENT ENGAGEMENT SUMMARY
Novel Plant Protein (Borage & Emerging Crops) Producer Strategic Portfolio Review and Transition Roadmap 2026·Investment Scenario on Novel Plant Protein (Borage & Emerging Crops) Exposure Evaluation 2025-26
CLIENT PROFILE
The client is a mid-sized European oilseed crusher with annual sales near $300 million (client-reported, unverified by MMA), producing rapeseed and sunflower oil and selling meal and press cake to feed customers. About 95% of sales were oil and feed meal, meal margins were thin, and food groups had asked for food-grade rapeseed and sunflower protein with novel food status. Management wanted a plan to add value.
STRATEGIC CHALLENGE
Gross margin on meal sat near 6% (client-reported, unverified by MMA), protein recovery would need new capital and approvals, and start-ups offered novel proteins to the same food customers. Management had to decide whether to build an extraction line, file a novel food dossier or partner with a technology owner, with limited capital and two crushing sites. Key customers wanted samples within 12 months.
MMA APPROACH
MMA analysed sales, cost and customer data across 15 products, interviewed 12 food technologists, regulators and ingredient buyers, and ran a buyer survey on functionality, approval and price across three countries. It modelled margin by product and scenario, compared extraction, dossier and partnership options by payback and execution risk, and tested each against crop and energy scenarios.
KEY FINDINGS
  1. A food-grade extraction line for rapeseed and sunflower protein would cost about $35 million and lift net margin on converted press cake by about 8 points (client-reported, unverified by MMA).
  2. A novel food dossier for a sunflower protein would cost about $2 million and cut time to market by about 15 months (client-reported, unverified by MMA).
  3. A technology partnership with a canola protein owner would cost about $3 million and secure process know-how and application data (client-reported, unverified by MMA).
  4. An application lab for dairy alternative and bakery formats would cost about $1.5 million and open launches worth about 10% of sales (client-reported, unverified by MMA).
CLIENT PROFILE
The client is a mid-sized European oilseed crusher with annual sales near $300 million (client-reported, unverified by MMA), producing rapeseed and sunflower oil and selling meal and press cake to feed customers. About 95% of sales were oil and feed meal, meal margins were thin, and food groups had asked for food-grade rapeseed and sunflower protein with novel food status. Management wanted a plan to add value.
STRATEGIC CHALLENGE
Gross margin on meal sat near 6% (client-reported, unverified by MMA), protein recovery would need new capital and approvals, and start-ups offered novel proteins to the same food customers. Management had to decide whether to build an extraction line, file a novel food dossier or partner with a technology owner, with limited capital and two crushing sites. Key customers wanted samples within 12 months.
MMA APPROACH
MMA analysed sales, cost and customer data across 15 products, interviewed 12 food technologists, regulators and ingredient buyers, and ran a buyer survey on functionality, approval and price across three countries. It modelled margin by product and scenario, compared extraction, dossier and partnership options by payback and execution risk, and tested each against crop and energy scenarios.
KEY FINDINGS
  1. A food-grade extraction line for rapeseed and sunflower protein would cost about $35 million and lift net margin on converted press cake by about 8 points (client-reported, unverified by MMA).
  2. A novel food dossier for a sunflower protein would cost about $2 million and cut time to market by about 15 months (client-reported, unverified by MMA).
  3. A technology partnership with a canola protein owner would cost about $3 million and secure process know-how and application data (client-reported, unverified by MMA).
  4. An application lab for dairy alternative and bakery formats would cost about $1.5 million and open launches worth about 10% of sales (client-reported, unverified by MMA).
RECOMMENDED STRATEGY
Phase 1: Phase 1 (Months 1-9): Sign the technology partnership, file the novel food dossier and open the application lab with two food customers. Phase 2: Phase 2 (Months 10-24): Finance and build the extraction line in stages and sign offtake agreements with three food groups. Phase 3: Phase 3 (Months 25-42): Commission the line, scale isolate and concentrate sales and review grower and energy terms yearly as cost data develop.
OUTCOME
Within 42 months, food-grade protein reached 12% of revenue with higher margin, net margin on converted press cake rose by about 8 points, and the sunflower dossier received approval (client-reported, unverified by MMA). Application launches covered about 10% of protein sales, three food groups signed multi-year agreements, and the extraction line reached planned output.

Frequently Asked Questions

Foundational context covering the market sizes, CAGR, scope, country, region and competition that inform every finding below. This section is provided to cover basics and most often pre-purchase conversations, answered from the MMA Primary Research Dataset.

What is the current size of the Novel Plant Protein (Borage & Emerging Crops) Market?

The global novel plant protein market from borage and emerging crops was valued at $0.60 billion in 2025 on an ingredient sales basis. Growth reflects supply diversification and press cake valorisation, offset by approvals and anti-nutrient control.

How large will the Novel Plant Protein (Borage & Emerging Crops) Market be by 2036?

The market is projected to reach $2.09 billion by 2036, up from $0.67 billion in 2026. The increase of $1.42 billion reflects duckweed, rapeseed isolates and Asian growth.

What is the CAGR for the Novel Plant Protein (Borage & Emerging Crops) Market 2026 to 2036?

The market is forecast to grow at a 12.0% CAGR from 2026 to 2036. The bull case reaches 13.3% and the bear case 10.7%, depending on approvals, plant scale and plant-based food demand.

Which segment is growing fastest?

Duckweed and Aquatic Plant Protein is the fastest-growing segment at 16.8% CAGR, roughly 1.40 times the overall market rate. Rapeseed and Canola Protein Isolates follows at 14.4% CAGR each year.

Who are the major companies in the Novel Plant Protein (Borage & Emerging Crops) Market?

Major companies include DSM-Firmenich, Burcon NutraScience, Plantible Foods, Roquette and Ingredion. Cargill, ADM, Cosucra, Emsland Group and Puris also hold positions in emerging plant proteins.

Which country is growing fastest?

Canada is growing fastest at about 14.5% CAGR, because canola crushing, protein technology companies and government support drive new plants. Australia and the Netherlands follow as processing expands.

Report Segmentation Architecture

The full report scope spans multiple orthogonal segmentation dimensions, with cross-tabulated demand data provided for each dimension pair. Coverage extends further to regional breakdowns, trend trajectories, and the competitive detail needed to support segment-level decision-making.

By Primary Market Dimension

  • Duckweed and Aquatic Plant Protein
  • Rapeseed and Canola Protein Isolates
  • Oilseed Press Cake Proteins
  • Lupin and Emerging Legume Proteins
  • Pseudocereal and Leaf Proteins

By End-Use Industry

  • Dairy and Egg Alternatives
  • Meat Alternatives
  • Bakery and Snacks
  • Sports and Clinical Nutrition

By Commercial Dimension

  • Direct Supply to Food Manufacturers
  • Ingredient Distributors
  • Private-Label Contract Supply
  • Online Ingredient Marketplaces
  • Programme and Service Contracts

By Region

  • North America
  • Western Europe
  • East Asia
  • South Asia and Pacific
  • Latin America
  • Middle East and Africa
  • Eastern Europe

Scope, Methodology, and Coverage

Every figure in this report is reproducible from documented input assumptions. The scope below maps the historical period, the forecast horizon, the segmentation dimensions, and the countries covered, alongside the underlying primary and qualitative methodology.
Historical Period
2020 to 2025
Forecast Period
2026 to 2036
Base Year
2025 (USD billions; MMA Primary Research Dataset, September 2026)
Market Definition
The market covers global sales of protein ingredients made from emerging or underused crops and by-products, including borage and camelina press cake, hemp, sunflower and other oilseed protein, rapeseed and canola isolates, duckweed and other aquatic plant proteins, lupin, quinoa and amaranth proteins and leaf proteins, sold to food, beverage and nutrition makers. It excludes soy, pea, wheat, rice and mainstream pulse proteins, animal and insect proteins, fungal proteins and whole grain flours.
Quantitative Units
USD billions (ingredient sales revenue); tonnes of protein for volume references
Segmentation Dimensions
By Crop Group; By End-Use Industry; By Commercial Dimension; By Region
Regions Covered
North America, Western Europe, East Asia, South Asia and Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa, Eastern Europe
Countries Covered
Canada, United States, Netherlands, France, Denmark, United Kingdom, Germany, Poland, Ukraine, Israel, China, Japan, Australia, India, Singapore, Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Egypt, South Africa, and additional markets relevant to this sector
Key Companies Profiled
DSM-Firmenich, Burcon NutraScience, Plantible Foods, Roquette, Ingredion, Cargill, ADM, Cosucra, Emsland Group, Puris, Parabel, Hinoman, Nutriati, InnovoPro, Bunge, Fuji Oil, Kerry Group, Glanbia Nutritionals, Axiom Foods, Sotexpro
Quantitative Methodology
Primary survey, n=3,800 respondents, Q4 2025, six countries; demand-side model with trade association cross-validation
Qualitative Methodology
47 expert interviews, Q4 2025; applied to validate demand model assumptions, identify emerging dynamics, and assess competitive positioning
Report Format
PDF and XLSX data workbook (Word format preview document)
Publisher
Market Minds Advisory
Report Code
MMA-2026-AGR-193
Published
September 2026
Contact
sales@marketmindsadvisory.com | www.marketmindsadvisory.com

Purchase the full Novel Plant Protein (Borage & Emerging Crops) Market Report (2026 to 2036).

The full report delivers a detailed assessment of the novel plant protein market from borage and emerging crops through 2036, covering crop group, end-use and regional forecasts, competitive benchmarking of leading ingredient groups, crushers and start-ups, and input cost analysis. It combines MMA primary research, including a six-country survey of 3,800 respondents and 47 expert interviews, with public statistical and company data. Analysts also model approval scenarios, crop price paths and plant scale-up timelines. Clients receive crop margin ranges, plant maps and a case study on growth strategy. Supplier programme and contract frameworks are also included.
Ten-year crop group demand forecasts by region
Press cake, energy, and freight cost tracking
Competitive benchmarking of leading novel protein suppliers
Novel food and GRAS approval rule tracker
Regional market comparative analysis and forecasts included
Quarterly primary survey data update access

Built For The People Who Decide

From boardroom strategy to bench-side execution, this report is read cover-to-cover by leaders shaping the next decade of their industry, turning demand scenarios, market dynamics and valuation benchmarks into decisions.
CXOs/ Presidents/ VPs/ Managers
M&A and Corporate Development
Strategy Teams and R&D Heads
Procurement and Product Directors
Regulatory and Compliance Leaders
Investor Relations and Equity Analysts