Welcome to Akshay Arora, Global Technical Manager – Plant-Based Proteins at Ingredion Incorporated, as a partner of the Global Plant-Based Foods & Proteins EcoSystem Advisory Board. With his expertise in plant-protein functioning, his insights have proven to be a valuable contribution. Akshay has shared with us his perspective on what it means to him to be part of the board, and what the Global Plant-Based Foods & Proteins EcoSystem can do for others in the industry.
Why are you a member of the Advisory Board?
A major challenge of our time is to lower our environmental footprint by rethinking dietary choices. Plant-based proteins offer us a significant tool to help with that cause. However, our knowledge of plant-based proteins is still in the early stages. We need to accelerate our fundamental understanding to provide superior taste, texture, and nutrition solutions. The EcoSystem advisory board is the perfect platform to connect with industry leaders, exchange ideas, shape our agenda, and develop pathways to solve those challenges faster together.
What has the EcoSystem done for you?
The EcoSystem has allowed me to listen to a range of capabilities partners bring across the value chain from seed processing to the end customer application. Also, it has provided me an opportunity to understand the underlying commonality of challenges we all face and the diversity of approaches needed to solve those.
Why is your organisation a partner?
Bridge2Food EcoSystem is one of the rare credible platforms that has successfully brought together more than 110 organizations together to advance the field of plant-based proteins. It provides a great opportunity for Ingredion to share its expertise as well as seek collaborative opportunities with partners with complementary capabilities. An example would be Project Conformity, where Ingredion is working with EcoSystem members and the AOCS to standardize methods for protein analysis.
What do you think the EcoSystem can do for others in the field?
The EcoSystem is a force multiplier. While individually each organization can advance a specific subset of the plant-based proteins, by joining hands there is a greater opportunity to advance common areas of interest, e.g. shaping science-based customer communication, progress pre-competitive research agenda, and provide aligned inputs to the Regulatory and Funding agencies.
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About Akshay Arora
Dr. Akshay Arora is a Global Technical Manager for Plant-Based Proteins at Ingredion Incorporated since 2017, based out of Bridgewater, New Jersey, USA. He is a protein subject matter expert and has been involved in the food industry for more than 13 years. In his current role at Ingredion Incorporated, he focuses on the development of plant-based protein ingredients and technologies. Previously, he has worked as a product developer at General Mills and PepsiCo. Dr. Arora has been actively involved in the protein community and has taught at Bridge2Food Protein courses from 2013 to 2017. He received his Ph.D. in Food Science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he developed a solvent-free technology to improve the flavor of plant proteins. To learn more about Akshay and his work at Ingredion Incorporated, please contact him through LinkedIn or visit the Ingredion webpage.
About the EcoSystem
275+ Industry Leaders from 110 Organisations are partnering since 2019 in the Global Plant-Based Foods Ecosystem, to accelerate the transition towards a more plant-based diet, with better foods, produced in a sustainable way, as well as increase food security with an abundant supply of proteins for food, feed, and pet food markets.
Innovation, Research & Development Leaders from Food Brands, Ingredient & Processing Companies, Institutes, Universities, Grower Associations, and Breeders collaborate on such a future with concrete actions, deliverables, and outcomes. To be involved in the EcoSystem and to join bi-weekly meetings, you can register here. To get all details on the EcoSystem, you can check out this page.
