Progen Foods: Indigenous Plant-Based Protein

This post is a part of the Early Stage Climate Startup series from Climafix 2024

Highlights

Indigenous Plant-Based Protein Powder: Developed for use in meat substitutes, offering a sustainable alternative to animal protein.
Low-GHG Pea Protein: Flagship product provides a low-emission alternative to traditional animal-based protein sources.

Progen Foods emphasizes local sourcing of protein from indigenous agricultural produce such as legumes, millets, and grains, minimizing emissions associated with imports and supporting India’s plant-based food market.

Protein Deficiency in India: Indian protein consumption is below recommended levels (0.8 to 1 gm/kg body weight). Progen Foods addresses this gap by providing an affordable, high-protein alternative.
Supply Chain Vulnerability: With approximately 90% of protein isolates imported from Europe, Canada, and China, India faces supply chain risks. Progen Foods’ indigenous manufacturing ensures a consistent and reliable protein supply.

GHG Emission Reduction: Progen’s pea protein reduces greenhouse gas emissions by up to 99% per kilogram compared to beef protein. Local production also eliminates emissions from importing protein isolates.

Current Target Segments: Targeting both B2B and D2C markets, Progen’s protein powder brand focuses on health-conscious consumers aged 18-35, selling through platforms like Amazon and Flipkart.
Future Target Segments: Progen plans to expand its product line by commercializing other indigenous plant protein isolates.

Locally Sourced & Produced: Progen’s vertically integrated supply chain allows full control over sourcing, processing, and manufacturing within India, enhancing quality, affordability, and sustainability.

Adithya Subramanian (CEO): With a background in business management and entrepreneurship. Adithya’s expertise in navigating the complexities of the plant-based protein market, alongside his focus on reducing costs and improving product quality.
Prateeka Haldorai (CTO): Leads the technological innovations behind the company’s product line. With a deep understanding of food science and protein isolation techniques, Prateeka is developing Progen Food’s indigenous plant-based protein powder.