In February 2025, Contactica supported a significant milestone within the ALEHOOP project: the successful pilot-scale of sustainable protein extraction, in this case lupin protein, at the facilities of Isanatur, a long-term collaborator of Contactica and a key player in bio-ingredient innovation.
This hands-on demonstration, carried out over three full working days, marks a major step forward in the ALEHOOP project’s goal of transforming low-input crops and agricultural by-products into viable, high-quality protein alternatives for food, feed, and industrial use. The results not only validate the lab-scale research from earlier stages but also prove the methodology’s adaptability and robustness at a semi-industrial level.
Why this pilot test matters
ALEHOOP’s core mission is to develop sustainable and circular processes that reduce Europe’s dependence on imported or animal-derived protein sources. This includes leveraging underutilized crops such as lupin, faba beans, and waste streams from agriculture and the food industry.
The recent pilot-scale test at Isanatur was designed to evaluate how the extraction process performs when scaled up beyond laboratory conditions. The team used 40 kg of whole lupin grain—sourced from the ALEHOOP partner GARLAN—to replicate the entire process from start to finish: soaking, grinding, extraction, precipitation, centrifugation, and spray drying of the final protein concentrate.
Critically, the process was not a mere copy of previous tests. Key engineering adjustments were made to suit the technical infrastructure at Isanatur. For example, instead of lab-scale separation techniques, the team implemented a filter press and a tubular centrifuge, optimizing performance and efficiency in a real-world production setting. These adjustments not only maintained the integrity of the process but also improved operational control, which is crucial for future scalability.
Key outcomes from the lupin trial
📌 Initial material: 40 kg of dry lupin grain
📌 Final product obtained: 7.87 kg of protein-rich dry powder
📌 Extraction yield: 68.98%
📌 Spray drying yield: 96.4%
These figures reflect a high extraction efficiency and minimal product loss during drying. The consistency and quality of the protein extract obtained were also in line with ALEHOOP’s technical and regulatory standards, making the result an encouraging indicator of commercial potential.
Sustainability meets technical feasibility
What sets ALEHOOP apart from other protein innovation projects is its strong sustainability backbone. The extraction process adheres to clean-label principles, meaning no synthetic solvents or additives are used. Instead, the protein is extracted using just water, hydrochloric acid (HCl), and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) with controlled pH shifts facilitating the separation and precipitation steps.
This makes the resulting protein not only safe and natural, but also more marketable to consumers and industries looking for traceable, plant-based ingredients with a low environmental footprint.
Moreover, the lupin used in the trial was grown using low-input agriculture, meaning it required minimal fertilizers and irrigation, further reducing the environmental impact of the final product. The integration of circular principles, from raw material sourcing to by-product management, supports ALEHOOP’s broader aim of creating a replicable model for sustainable protein extraction and production.
Collaboration in action
The pilot was executed by a dedicated technical team including process engineers, R&D experts, and quality assurance personnel from both Contactica and Isanatur. Their collaborative effort ensured end-to-end monitoring, data collection, and process optimization, essential for scaling up operations in the future.
This milestone exemplifies how public-private cooperation under EU-funded frameworks like Horizon 2020 can produce tangible outcomes that bridge the gap between research and real-world innovation.
What’s next for ALEHOOP
This successful trial feeds directly into the project’s final deliverables, but the work doesn’t stop here. The learnings from the lupin pilot will inform upcoming demonstrations with faba beans and agro-industrial side streams. These future tests will continue to refine the ALEHOOP methodology and demonstrate its flexibility across different raw materials and production environments.
At Contactica, we remain deeply involved in the coordination and technical execution of these pilots, ensuring that the project’s innovations align with market expectations, sustainability targets, and EU regulatory frameworks.
Looking ahead: From field to fork, and beyond
With the growing demand for sustainable and functional proteins, especially those that reduce reliance on animal agriculture and imported soy, ALEHOOP is poised to make a meaningful contribution to Europe’s protein transition.
The lupin pilot has shown that concepts developed in the lab can indeed be transferred into real-world conditions, and more importantly, that circular, low-impact protein production is possible when supported by strong partnerships, technical know-how, and long-term vision.
✅ Want to learn more about ALEHOOP and our role?
Visit https://alehoop.eu or follow Contactica on LinkedIn to stay updated on our journey from research to application.
