Danone, Terviva to develop new food products using pongamia oil

Terviva will open a facility in the US in 2022 to produce pongamia-based foods

US-based Terviva is embarking on a new collaboration with Danone, a global leader in plant-based products, essential dairy, waters and specialized nutrition.

Danone and Terviva are working to develop new food products that utilize pongamia oil and plant protein. The collaboration illustrates the shared vision of Danone and Terviva to improve the environmental outcomes of the food system by supporting regenerative farming practices that improve soil health, water quality and biodiversity, while also improving social and market outcomes.

“We believe that healthy foods need a healthy planet with thriving ecosystems and strong, resilient social structures,” says Merijn Dols, global director of open innovation & circular economy for food of Danone. “This is why we are excited to team up with Terviva to co-develop important ingredients – edible protein and oil — from the pongamia tree, while also rehabilitating the soil the tree grows in.”

Supporting this partnership is MISTA, a San Francisco based global innovation platform. MISTA’s purpose is to transform the global food system to meet the needs of the future by leveraging collaborations between the largest food, ingredient, and technology players with the most innovative, early-stage companies in the world.

“The collaboration between Terviva and Danone brings to life a truly transformational, regenerative food solution,” says Scott May, head of MISTA. “We’re proud to have made this collaboration possible and to satisfy consumers’ appetites for plant-based foods that are nutritious and sustainable for people and the planet.”

Terviva will open a facility in the US in 2022 to produce pongamia-based foods. Pongamia oil is derived from the seeds of the Millettia pinnata tree, which is native to tropical and temperate Asia.