The Victorian Government is boosting jobs and innovation in regional Victoria with the launch of a new Plant Protein Hub and state-of-the-art glasshouse at Agriculture Victoria's Horsham SmartFarm.
The new facilities will support researchers and industry to discover and develop crop varieties that are rich in protein and tailored to the growing global demand for plant-based foods such as lentils, chickpeas and field peas.
The Plant Protein Hub features collaboration spaces for start-ups, researchers and growers, a fully equipped test kitchen and analytical equipment, and facilities to explore new plant-based products.
Students from primary school through to post-graduate university researchers based in the region will also benefit from the hub, with a dedicated education space for hands-on workshops.
The glasshouse will enable fast-tracked crop research in new varieties, crop pest and disease management and climate resilience.
Western Victoria is already a leader in growing crops for plant-based protein products. Victoria's pulse industry generated $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.
Global demand for plant-based protein is forecast to reach $250 billion by 2035, creating major opportunities for Victorian growers, food innovators and consumers.
The new facility builds on existing state-of-the-art research and innovation assets at the 600-hectare Horsham SmartFarm, which includes the Australian Grains Genebank and the Free Air Temperature Extreme Facility.
