Plant-based Food Processing Equipment Market (2023-2030)

Advances in technologies are driving innovations in plant-based food processing equipment. Plant-based foods undergo various processes to replicate the texture, taste, and flavor of meat products. Such applications require the food processing equipment to have specific attributes. Innovations in the plant-based food processing equipment market are mainly focused on new extrusion equipment, mixers, pasteurizers, and dryers, to extend the shelf life of food products and impart the desired mouthfeel.

Moreover, high-pressure processing (HPP), a cold pasteurization technique, is an innovation that helps in the post-packaging process. It allows food products to retain their freshness and nutritional content and extends their shelf life.

Additionally, the players operating in the plant-based food processing equipment market are focusing on developing advanced offerings to meet the growing demand and enhance the quality of their customers’ products. For instance, in February 2021, Bühler AG launched the PolyCool 1000, a high-performance cooling die combined with an extruder. With the PolyCool 1000, it is possible to produce wet textured proteins using a wide range of raw materials, including soy, pulses, oilseeds, grains, and microalgae, at throughputs of up to 1,000 kilograms per hour. Also, in January 2021, Bühler AG (Switzerland) partnered with DIL Deutsches Institut für Lebensmitteltechnik e. V., to develop new production technologies for extruded alternative meat substitutes.

Furthermore, the rising demand for convenience foods has boosted the production of plant-based snacks, including burgers, schnitzels, and nuggets. However, processors of convenience foods face various challenges, including uneven coating of plant-based snacks, which may affect overall consumer acceptance. To overcome this challenge, equipment manufacturers increasingly focus on developing flexible coaters designed according to product requirements. For instance, in September 2022, Marel (Iceland) launched a 1000 mm Coating Line for flexible setups offering different products. The 1000 mm Coating Line features an active flour, batter, and tempura applicator, wider belts, and a more robust, fail-safe design. Mixing is one of the major challenges in processing plant-based foods, especially products with a sticky texture that does not flow easily and products that degrade with prolonged exposure to atmospheric oxygen. To overcome this challenge, equipment manufacturers have developed continuous mixers that enable smooth mixing with minimum product loss and have flexible, precisely adjustable settings depending on the product type.

Innovations that reduce equipment downtime by enhancing reliability and longevity can also improve facility throughput by increasing facility capacity utilization. Thus, innovations in plant-based food processing equipment are expected to drive the growth of this market.