Mountain flowers turned nutrient-rich food source

Lupin, often thought of as a beautiful flower, is also a legume cultivated for its protein, fibre and amino acids around the world, but it wasn’t until the 21^st century that its ability to advance sustainable farming in Canada was fully appreciated.

Tristan Choi, CEO of Lupin Platform, learned about a study by the Alberta government to find another rotation crop that could fix soil nitrogen. The study proved lupin’s commercial potential, but its moment in the Canadian sun didn’t arrive until 2021, when Choi fully embraced the crop and started the company to promote and advance it.

“Lupin has about 35 per cent protein and is one of the highest protein crops per acre,” he says. “With the right strategy, partnerships and marketing, we could see the market for lupin grow 10-fold globally.”

Since then, he’s been building a lupin value chain that will elevate this ancient crop through cultivation know-how and unique processing insights.

With today’s innovative food processors looking to differentiate themselves through ingredients as much as products, the complete amino-acid composition, dietary fibre, clean flavour profile, near-zero carbohydrates, high antioxidants and non-GMO qualities of lupin make it a strong contender in the plant protein space.

There are benefits for farmers, too. Lupin is resistant to the soil-borne root rot, Aphanomyces, an increasing concern for Canadian farmers, giving growers an easily managed option that will succeed where other crops may fail. Thanks to his tireless work introducing the crop to producers and others in agriculture and food, Choi expects the sweet version of these mountain-side flowers to join the likes of chickpeas and fava beans as the next darling Canadian crop.

“We have found the best varieties of lupin for Canadian growing conditions,” he says.

While about 80 per cent of Lupin Platform’s crop goes to specialty livestock feed, there’s plenty of opportunity for human products, particularly in areas of pasta, alt-dairy, vegan sausages and lupin flour products.

The company's flour is gaining attention for its functionality in dough and pasta applications, bringing a boost of fibre alongside texture and mouthfeel benefits. This, combined with Choi’s estimates of keto and gluten-free markets at $11 billion and $9 billion U.S. dollars respectively in 2023, means lupin has significant opportunity ahead, with Canada as the country poised to achieve it.