Meala has partnered with dsm-firmenich to commercialize Vertis™ PB Pea, a texturizing pea protein ingredient designed for plant-based meat alternatives. The product is now available in Europe through dsm-firmenich.
Vertis™ PB Pea is produced via biotechnology and is protected by two patents. It functions as a multifunctional ingredient that replaces multiple binders commonly used in plant-based meat formulations, such as hydrocolloids.
One protein, multiple solutions
The ingredient delivers binding, gelation, and emulsifying properties within a single component. It also increases the protein content of finished products. This consolidation of functions is intended to shorten ingredient lists and simplify labeling, with Vertis™ PB Pea clearly identified as “pea protein.”
Tests indicate compatibility across a range of applications including burgers, sausages, and nuggets. The protein maintains its functional properties under various thermal conditions, supporting both heat processing and low-temperature applications. It also contributes to texture and water retention, which are key factors in achieving desirable juiciness and structure in plant-based meat products.
Tali Feldman Sivan, chief business officer and co-founder of Meala FoodTech, said, “It addresses both functionality and clean-label demands, while replicating the sensory profile and experience of conventional meat products.”
The product builds on Meala FoodTech’s proprietary platform, developed in 2022, which creates ‘functionally activated proteins’ designed to replace methylcellulose and gums widely used as binding and gelling agents in plant-based meat products. In 2023, the company raised $1.9 million in pre-seed funding to further develop this multifunctional protein platform. And as of today, it has raised $7 million in equity and grants.
Vertis™ PB Pea is positioned as an ingredient solution for manufacturers seeking to optimize plant-based meat alternatives through improved nutrition, texture, and label simplicity. Production has commenced in Europe, with plans to scale internationally in response to growing demand.
Powerful collaboration drives global rollout
The collaboration combines Meala’s innovation in pea protein technology with dsm-firmenich’s distribution network and expertise in regulatory compliance and market rollout. Hadar Ekhoiz Razmovich, CEO and co-founder of Meala FoodTech, acknowledged dsm-firmenich’s role: “Their application support, regulatory expertise, and ability to drive global commercial rollouts are unprecedented. dsm-firmenich believed in us from the very beginning—not only as investors, but as true partners—offering guidance, trust, and strategic support that helped lay the foundation for this powerful collaboration.”
