New directions in the use of commercial hemp
Signature Products partners with top companies for groundbreaking research project
Signature Products GmbH, a company specializing in the cultivation and trade of commercial hemp, has just received a commitment for a unique funding project from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research. Together with the University of Bonn, Rügenwalder Mühle, one of the largest producers of plant-based meat in Germany, as well as Südzucker, ICL Ladenburg and other subcontractors, a funding application for the project "hemp4Food" was submitted and approved as part of the innovation space NewFoodSystems -.
"Our vision is to exploit the enormous potential of useful hemp for human nutrition," said Florian Pichlmaier, CEO of Signature Products. "Hemp seeds are a valuable source of fat and protein, rich in fiber, vitamins and minerals. They are approved as food in Germany and have enormous potential for the production of vegetable proteins."
The project, which has received funding of more than one million euros, aims to research and develop sustainable processes for obtaining high-quality and functional protein ingredients from hemp seeds. Currently, the market for plant-based proteins is mainly dominated by soy, wheat and peas. Hemp could be a valuable alternative protein source, especially given the low environmental impact of hemp cultivation and the increasing demand for plant-based protein sources.
"One of our main goals is to clarify the processes that lead to functionally attractive hemp proteins. In the funding group, we will investigate the chemical and functional properties of the resulting protein ingredients and their application potential. In particular, we will try to develop a method to produce hemp protein and hemp seed oil more cheaply," Pichlmaier explained.
The project will also investigate the utilization potential of side streams and assess the economics of using hemp seeds for protein production. The collaboration between Signature Products and renowned companies and research institutes promises significant progress in the sustainable use of commercial hemp for human nutrition and beyond.
The hemp4Food project is part of the NewFooddSystems Innovation Space, which brings together stakeholders from food and nutrition research and the food industry to collaborate in spurring bioeconomic innovation and leveraging research results more broadly than ever before. The Innovation Space is coordinated by the Max Rubner Institute (MRI) in collaboration with the Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn. More than 60 partners from science, industry and society have already joined the transdisciplinary consortium.
"We are very much looking forward to working with our partners in the coming years. Together, we can create new opportunities to integrate useful hemp even more into our everyday lives and contribute to a more sustainable future," said Pichlmaier.
This project is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research.
Just recently, Signature Products received an investment from both U.S. and German investors. This capital will be used primarily to support the new hemp app for the soon to be launched recreational cannabis market.
Note: This article has been translated using a computer system without human intervention. LUMITOS offers these automatic translations to present a wider range of current news. Since this article has been translated with automatic translation, it is possible that it contains errors in vocabulary, syntax or grammar. The original article in German can be found here.
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