DSM launches enzyme for oat-based alternatives

Royal DSM extends its Delvo®Plant enzyme portfolio with the launch of Delvo®Plant Go for oat-based dairy alternatives. This new enzyme solution simplifies the production of oat-based products by enabling manufacturers to perform the liquefaction and saccharification process – breaking down the oat starches into glucose and maltose – in one step. This enables a shorter and more efficient process, reducing hydrolysis time by up to 30%.¹ As well as time savings, oat-based dairy alternatives manufactured with Delvo®Plant Go require less energy and water, supporting oat-based manufacturers to achieve their sustainability goals. These improvements result in increased capacity or reduced costs – something that is particularly important given the current volatility in the energy market.

The global plant-based dairy alternatives market is worth €18 billion² and oat-based alternatives are commanding an increasingly high portion of new product launches and sales.2 Of the most popular bases for plant-based dairy alternative drinks, the oat-based category has the highest growth projections with an anticipated compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14% between 2020 and 2028.³

Delvo®Plant Go has been designed to take the complexity out of manufacturing oat-based drinks by removing the need for separate liquefaction and saccharification phases. (Photo: Shutterstock courtesy of DSM)

Manufacturers of oat-based dairy alternatives face several challenges. There is a need to increase capacity to keep up with high demand. Producers also need to simplify processes and improve efficiencies to remain profitable in a challenging global environment of high inflation and volatile energy prices.

Delvo®Plant Go has been specifically designed to take the complexity out of manufacturing oat-based drinks by removing the need for separate liquefaction and saccharification phases that traditionally require different temperatures. The new enzyme solution enables a one-step hydrolysis at a single temperature that can reduce hydrolysis time by up to 30%1 – taking it from around three to two hours.1 Producers using Delvo®Plant Go benefit from time, energy and water savings without impacting the taste or texture of a final application. This new solution also supports organic and non-GMO formulations – helping producers appeal to a broad range of consumers.

“The oat-based dairy alternatives category is in a sustained period of high growth. Now is the right time for producers to simplify their production processes to keep pace with this fast-moving market,” comments Ben Rutten, Global Business Manager, Milk & Plant-based Dairy Alternatives at DSM. “While consumer demand for oat-based products is growing, the category isn’t immune to the current difficulties around volatile energy prices and the constant pressure to deliver the delicious, nutritious and sustainably produced products consumers love. This is why we set out to not only save producers time, but also enable energy, and water savings. Combined with our wider portfolio for plant-based dairy alternatives, producers can enjoy it all without compromising on taste, texture, health or sustainability.”

Delvo®Plant Go is the latest addition to DSM’s Delvo®Plant enzyme portfolio that helps manufacturers improve the flavor, texture and sugar profile of plant-based drinks while also supporting with gluten reduction and mineral availability for plant based dairy alternatives. The combined portfolio draws on DSM’s 100+ years of expertise in the traditional dairy category and helps food and beverage brands create a wide variety of plant-based dairy alternatives – including drinks and cheese – with a great taste and texture while also being nutritious and sustainable. DSM’s combined portfolio for plant-based dairy alternatives also includes stabilizers, taste modulators, flavors, sweeteners, nutritional premixes, proteins and color solutions.

[1] Calculations based on total savings during oat hydrolysis steps, recovery not included.

[2] Euromonitor, 2022.

[3] https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/oat-milk-market