Agriculture Victoria’s new Plant Protein Hub aims to develop new crop varieties to satisfy the global demand for high-protein plant-based foods
A new Plant Protein Hub and glasshouse is now operational at Agriculture Victoria’s Horsham SmartFarm, providing collaborative spaces for start-ups, researchers and growers to explore new plant-based products.
The facilities include a fully equipped test kitchen and advanced analytical equipment, which will help researchers and industry partners discover and develop high-protein crop varieties to meet growing global demand for plant-based foods such as lentils, chickpeas and field peas.
The hub is already a leading centre for innovation, with PhD students working alongside industry and researchers.
It has capacity for up to 10 PhD students and three start-ups, and Agriculture Victoria is collaborating with industry to shape future research opportunities.
Western Victoria is already a leader in growing crops for plant-based protein products, with the state’s pulse industry generating $638 million in export income last year, and Australia exports around 2.5 million tonnes of pulses annually, making it the second-largest pulse exporter in the world.
“Victoria is leading the way in plant-based protein research, building world-class facilities and fostering collaboration that will transform agriculture and strengthen regional economies,” Victorian agriculture minister Ros Spence says.
The new glasshouse will accelerate crop research, improve pest and disease management and boost climate resilience – helping farmers adapt to changing conditions and maintain productivity.