Dutch Startup Time‑Travelling Milkman Turns Sunflower Fat Waste into Next‑Gen Plant Protein
Dutch startup Time‑Travelling Milkman has partnered with Finland’s VTT Technical Research Centre on Sunflopro. This multi‑year, EU‑supported project aims to transform sunflower fat‑processing sidestreams into a high‑performance plant‑based protein powder. Backed by a $700,000 grant from EIT Food, the initiative seeks to valorise the entire sunflower seed through a circular, chemical‑free extraction process that preserves protein functionality while using far less water and energy than conventional plant‑protein production.
The resulting ingredient, also called Sunflopro, offers strong emulsifying properties suited for applications ranging from hybrid dairy and creamers to sports nutrition, infant formula, flavour encapsulation, and pharmaceuticals.
The project builds on Time‑Travelling Milkman’s patented oleosome‑preserving technology, which already powers its low‑emission dairy‑fat alternative Oleocream. By upcycling byproducts into Sunflopro, the company aims to create a zero‑waste value chain that supports European agriculture, shortens supply chains, and reduces reliance on imported soy.
By 2031, the partners target upcycling 550 tonnes of sunflower material, saving 2,000 cubic metres of water and cutting energy use by 20% compared to soy protein benchmarks. VTT will independently evaluate these impacts, underscoring the project’s ambition to advance circular manufacturing, diversify protein sources, and accelerate the shift toward more sustainable food‑tech business models.
