New LIKE-A-PRO factsheets provide practical insights into emerging protein ingredients, their applications and market potential, highlighting next-generation solutions for food manufacturers, ingredient suppliers and innovation professionals working towards more sustainable food products.
Designed to support industry decision-making, the documents turn complex research results into clear and usable knowledge. With a strong focus on real-world applications and production challenges, they help professionals better understand how alternative proteins can be integrated into commercial food products.
“With these factsheets we provide access to clear and practical information on how new protein ingredients perform, where they fit, and what it takes to bring them to market,” says Alberto Álvarez Gil, Project Area Director at Innovarum.
Each one focuses on a specific protein source – including pea, faba bean, rapeseed, mushroom, microbial, mealworm and krill proteins – and highlights its potential for food and ingredient applications. They cover key aspects such as nutritional value, functional performance and processing characteristics, all of which are critical for product development.
In addition, the materials outline the main challenges linked to each protein source, such as extraction efficiency, sensory properties and scalability. They also show how these challenges are being addressed through innovations developed in the LIKE-A-PRO project, offering concrete examples of progress towards commercial readiness.
They further explore how these ingredients can be used across a range of food applications, including meat and seafood alternatives, bakery products, beverages and hybrid formulations. Market perspectives, business models and regulatory considerations are also addressed, helping companies assess both technical feasibility and commercial potential.
Overall, the collection provides a useful reference point for professionals looking to explore new ingredients, optimise formulations or expand their alternative protein portfolio.