Australia’s plant-based food market has taken a significant step forward with the launch of Harvest B’s new facility in Penrith, New South Wales.
The Sydney-based company is now the nation’s first plant-based meat ingredient manufacturer, offering locally sourced and processed grains as the foundation for innovative food products.
Harvest B’s ingredients will cater to food brands, manufacturers, and food service companies seeking clean-label, plant-based protein alternatives, according to a news release.
These products aim to compete with animal-based proteins on taste, quality, and cost while contributing to the decarbonisation of supply chains.
Unlike imported alternatives, Harvest B’s products boast an extended shelf life and do not require cold-chain storage, making them a sustainable choice for businesses.
By leveraging Australia’s high-quality grains, the company is adding value locally, creating skilled jobs, and reducing reliance on imported plant-based proteins.
Harvest B was co-founded by Kristi Riordan and Alfred Lo in response to the growing global need for sustainable food systems.
“When investigating the plant-based protein market, it became apparent that there was not a single large-scale ingredient brand supplying high-quality, locally made plant proteins to Australian food manufacturers,” said Alfred Lo, co-founder and Chief Commercial Officer.
“It made absolutely no sense that high-quality, Australian-grown produce is shipped offshore to be processed, only for us to buy it back at higher costs,” added Kristi Riordan, co-founder and CEO.
The new facility received praise from the Federal Government and industry leaders.
Speaking at the launch, Minister for Industry and Science Ed Husic highlighted the facility’s alignment with national manufacturing goals.
“The Albanese Government is committed to revitalising Australia’s advanced manufacturing by backing companies like Harvest B,” Minister Husic said.
“Australia has a strong reputation as a producer of safe, premium, high-quality foods, and Harvest B will support domestic businesses to capitalise on the growing demand for plant-based protein foods.”
Jens Goennemann, Managing Director of the Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre (AMGC), lauded the company’s approach to adding value to Australian natural resources.
“Australia is a nation blessed with abundant natural resources, yet we have relied too heavily on trading these commodities in a raw state,” Goennemann said.
“Like Harvest B, we should be leveraging our smarts to add value to these resources right here in Australia.”
Harvest B’s Penrith facility has an initial output capacity of 1,000 metric tonnes, supplying its ingredients to food brands and manufacturers to create sausages, patties, mince, and proprietary whole-meat products.
The company plans to develop 10 product lines and is already exploring export opportunities in Southeast Asia.
The project has received co-investment from the Federal Government via AMGC and support from industry partners, including Woolworths’ venture fund, W23.
For more information about Harvest B’s plant-based protein initiative, visit the AMGC project page.
