The latest food and beverage industry news and trend analysis

Green Boy Group, a global B2B supplier of plant-based food ingredients, has announced an early-stage investment in Fudi Protein. Founded in 2025, Fudi Protein specialises in the extraction of RuBisCO protein from alfalfa, a crop recognised as one of the most protein-dense on the planet.

The investment aims to support the commercialisation of RuBisCO, moving the novel ingredient from the development phase into large-scale B2B applications. The partnership leverages Green Boy Group’s extensive international distribution network to position Fudi Protein as a primary supplier for next-generation plant-based product development.

Technical Profile of RuBisCO Protein

Within the alternative protein sector, RuBisCO is frequently cited for its superior nutritional and functional profile. Extracted from the leaves of green plants, it offers several critical advantages over traditional plant isolates such as soy, pea, or rice:

• Nutritional Completeness: Achieves a near-complete PDCAAS (Protein Digestibility-Corrected Amino Acid Score) of up to 1.0, rivalling dairy and animal proteins.

• Sensory Attributes: Naturally white in colour with a clean, neutral taste profile, eliminating the need for heavy masking agents.

• Application Functionality: Exhibits strong binding, foaming, and emulsification properties, making it highly suitable for dairy substitutes, clear protein beverages, and egg replacements in commercial baking.

Mobile Processing and Supply Chain Economics

A primary challenge in scaling leaf-based proteins has historically been the economic viability of the extraction process. Fudi Protein addresses this through a proprietary, localised extraction method.

Unlike traditional protein crops such as yellow peas or rice, where processors must sell high volumes of byproduct starches and fibres at specific price points to maintain overall profitability, Fudi Protein utilises a mobile processing model. By harvesting and processing alfalfa near cultivation fields, the company can immediately return the high-value agricultural byproduct directly to local farmers.

This localised approach significantly reduces logistics costs, minimises the carbon footprint of transport, and creates a more sustainable and economically resilient supply chain.

GLP-1 Consumer Trends and Market Demand

The investment is strategically timed to intersect with shifting dietary habits, particularly the rise of GLP-1 weight-loss medications. As consumer diets shift toward higher protein and fibre intake to mitigate muscle loss and support satiety, the demand for highly digestible, clean-label proteins is skyrocketing.

RuBisCO provides food manufacturers with an ingredient that meets these strict nutritional requirements without compromising the sensory experience of the end product, catering directly to the health-conscious and medical-nutrition demographics.

Distribution and Commercialisation

Fudi Protein is led by Udi Lazimy, an industry veteran with over 25 years of experience in agrifood systems and alternative proteins. The partnership with Green Boy Group provides Lazimy’s team with immediate access to a global commercial infrastructure, including offices in Los Angeles, Chicago, Amsterdam, Hong Kong, and Sydney.