Galicia invests up to €9.5 million in public-private partnership to advance plant-based infrastructure

The regional government of Galicia (Xunta de Galicia), in partnership with the brewery Hijos de Rivera and the company Inproteins, has launched an ambitious infrastructure project for the extraction and processing of plant-based protein. With a total combined investment of up to €18 million, this initiative exemplifies how cooperation can accelerate the transition toward a more sustainable and accessible food system.

Access to infrastructure that enables large-scale production is crucial for alternative proteins (such as plant-based meat, fermentation-made ingredients and cultivated meat) to reach price points comparable to their animal-based counterparts, making them more affordable for the general population. However, these projects often require significant investments, making development difficult without support from multiple stakeholders.

This is where government involvement becomes essential – by identifying the strategic potential of such initiatives and mitigating risks through public investment, these projects become more attractive and viable. In this context, according to a statement from Inproteins, the Xunta de Galicia designated this project as a priority business initiative in September 2023. More recently, the regional government has provided several financing mechanisms, including grants and loans from the Galician Institute for Economic Promotion (IGAPE) and direct investment in Inproteins through the public business entity XesGalicia. Public funding has reached €9.5 million, with additional support from Banco Sabadell as a private financial partner.

But innovation doesn’t stop there. This project also represents progress in circularity within the food system, as it utilizes byproducts from the brewing sector – such as spent grain from beer production – for protein extraction. This approach, similar to initiatives from companies like Better Balance and Sanygran, highlights the potential to transform waste into high-value nutritional ingredients, reducing food waste and maximising the value for producers from agricultural products.

According to Inproteins, the new facility, to be built in Teixeiro-Curtis (A Coruña), will employ around 40 people from its initial launch, scheduled for late 2026. The site will also include production facilities, an advanced R&D laboratory, and a pilot plant, suggesting an even greater impact on local employment.

Spain is currently the fourth-largest market in the European Union for plant-based products, having grown by 7.5% in value and 6.4% in sales volume between 2022 and 2023, despite high inflation rates affecting the entire food sector and the persistent price gap between plant-based and animal-based products.

Additionally, this investment by the Xunta de Galicia will contribute to protecting natural resources. Plant-based meat can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 98% compared to conventional protein production methods. It also requires 93% less agricultural land and 99% less water two crucial factors for ecosystem conservation and the promotion of more sustainable and productive agricultural practices.

With projects like this, Galicia demonstrates that collaboration between public administrations, businesses, and financial institutions is key to building a more resilient, innovative, and sustainable food future.