PoLoPo Finalizes Plans for Pilot Facility to Produce Protein from Transgenic Potatoes
Israeli biotech company PoLoPo has finalized plans for a pilot-scale production facility dedicated to extracting and processing functional proteins from its proprietary high-protein transgenic potatoes. The milestone follows a successful five-ton harvest of the protein-rich crop—the first of its kind cultivated at scale globally.
Located in Ness Ziona, the facility is projected to cost under $1 million and will feature equipment for potato cleaning, crushing, protein purification, and spray drying. By relying on standard food processing machinery, PoLoPo is able to maintain low capital expenditure and position its production model for future replication in other regions.
\"PoLoPo’s pilot facility design strikes the right balance between cost efficiency and functionality, ensuring a scalable and capital-conscious approach,” said Tom Britton, project manager at NIRAS, the Danish engineering consultancy that designed the facility. “Additionally, the facility’s design and process take into account industrial machinery requirements, allowing for future growth and seamless scale-up.”
NIRAS, a signatory to the UN Global Compact, brings international expertise in sustainable development and infrastructure projects related to food, agriculture, and alternative proteins.
The modular nature of the facility plans means they can be used with minimal adaptations for future installations. PoLoPo’s CEO, Maya Sapir-Mir, noted that the company is ready to proceed to construction as soon as feasible. “Having the design plans for our first facility positions us to begin construction as soon as we’re able, and although this phase was completed ahead of schedule, we’re confident we will not wait long to move forward,” she said.
PoLoPo has developed a proprietary metabolic engineering platform that transforms ordinary potato plants into protein-producing biofactories. The target proteins are accumulated in the tuber and later extracted and processed into a functional protein powder. This powder is designed to integrate seamlessly into existing food manufacturing lines and formulations, offering a new avenue for plant-based functional ingredients.
By leveraging the scalability of potato cultivation and standard food-grade processing infrastructure, PoLoPo aims to offer a viable and cost-effective alternative protein source that supports global sustainability and food security goals.
