THE company building a manufacturing plant to extract protein powder in Horsham says it is open to directly sourcing pulses from Wimmera farmers.
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Melbourne-based investment company Evans Agribusiness Trading Group chief executive Phil McFarlane said construction of the plant at Carine Street, Horsham was "well underway".
"Australian Plant Proteins (which EAT group owns) will be acquiring its raw product through established third party grain traders at present, although down the track it is open to dealing direct with farmers," he said.
"The focus in terms of crop choices will be faba beans and lentils, rather than chick peas and field peas due to better market opportunities."
Mr McFarlane said the main market for the protein powder domestically was other food manufacturers - including those producing protein bars, soft drinks and pet food.
"Internationally the focus is on first world nations such as France, Japan, Canada, New Zealand, the United States and the United Kingdom," he said.
"We are investigating potential for entering the big Chinese market but we are also doing due diligence on our regulatory requirements.
"At present the pulses will be coming from bulk handling facilities, but there could be scope to develop relationships with farmers wishing to store on-farm as the business becomes established."
Mr McFarlane said the first phase of construction was set to be completed by May next year.
He previously told the Mail-Times the plant would produce around 2500 tonnes of protein powder each year, and that a second stage of development that would double this output was being planned.
Green Lake farmer Glen Mibus welcomed the update, saying there had been "very little" opportunity for farmers to add value to their crops in previous years.
"The only real alternative to selling in bulk is getting the grain cleaned and put on smaller containers that get shipped overseas and used for human consumption," he said.
"It will mean a big boon for the pulse industry in this part of the state."
Mr Mibus said he had not factored in the plant becoming operational to his planning for next year's cropping season.
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Alexander Darling
Alexander has been a member of the Wimmera Mail-Times' editorial team since December 2018, covering politics, business and property among other rounds. He is a passionate St.Kilda and rock and roll fan, and has previously worked as a radio reporter in Port Macquarie and Gosford, NSW.
Alexander has been a member of the Wimmera Mail-Times' editorial team since December 2018, covering politics, business and property among other rounds. He is a passionate St.Kilda and rock and roll fan, and has previously worked as a radio reporter in Port Macquarie and Gosford, NSW.
