Alfalfa Leaf
Sweet Potato Leaf
Amaranth Leaf
essential proteins
essential proteins
Long pursued as a rich protein source by LeafPro and others, highly concentrated protein ingredient powders from plant leaf remained elusive at commercial scale, until now… LeafPro is releasing a first in a series of soluble protein powders which are also rich in other scarce nutrients. We are starting with Sweet Potato Leaf, a by-product of American farming, which is rich in amino acids not produced by the body and includes the incredible nutrient Lutein.
Leaf to Ingredient
Leaf to Ingredient
As a food ingredient, LeafPro’s products have a major advantage over most plant protein sources. Our soluble powders are complete. They can be RuBisCo rich with whipping characteristics; And contain the essential amino acids humans normally source from animal meat, including methionine, lysine and tryptophan.
FarmingValue added
Rather than trying to create exotic crops, LeafPro has been working with American framers to identify by-products which would extend more value to their production crops. By introducing a patent protected, alternative protein source to the plant-based protein market (dominated by problematic sources), gross revenues per acre of sweet potato tuber are increased. And with the shift in consumer preference favouring ingredients which are also loaded with antioxidants and micronutrients, today’s farmers can stabilize markets.
Sustainability Without cost
Since the 1980s, Big Tobacco has tried to make its leaf a source of food protein. Starting with that technology, we asked ourselves where could we source a protein-rich leaf without disturbing the farmer’s market. What we found was over a billion pounds of waste leaf in just North Carolina alone that could replace the complete proteins of animal sources and the functional attributes of eggs. LeafPro’s Sweet Potato Leaf powder and other soon to be introduced leaf ingredients help conserve America’s valuable farmlands.
Byproducts And pest products
After innovating the by-product concept, LeafPro’s scientists had a rebellious idea: could we take a common pest weed and transform that into more value added over framed acreage. Amaranth, commonly referred to as pigweed, competes heavily with productive crops in our region. The problem has grown in magnitude over the past two decades, and farmers are increasingly unable to control it with any herbicide. LeafPro is working with the community on non-invasive weeding to harvest this protein/antioxidant rich leaf.