Wide Open Agriculture accelerates Buntine Protein oat milk production with A$5m grant

Wide Open Agriculture has been granted a non-dilutive AUD 5 million by the Western Australian Government’s Investment Attraction Fund to accelerate the production of Buntine Protein oat milk.

This significant grant to the Australian regenerative food and farming firm is aimed at the construction and development of a state-of-the-art facility for producing Buntine Protein enhanced oat milk. The facility is slated to commence initial production as early as this calendar year, with expansion plans extending into 2024 and 2025.

As an ASX-listed leader in regenerative food and agriculture, Wide Open Agriculture‘s brand, Dirty Clean Food, targets conscious consumers in Australia and Southeast Asia with its innovative food and beverage products. This government funding is instrumental for the company’s local manufacturing efforts, emphasising their commitment to sustainability and innovation in the plant-based beverage sector.

Wide Open Agriculture expedites Buntine Protein oat milk production with AUD5m grant. Photo courtesy of Wide Open Agriculture Limited.

The production facility, located in Western Australia, an area globally recognised for its high-quality oats, will significantly contribute to the company’s sustainable innovation drive. It will be strategically placed next to the Buntine Protein pilot plant, enabling the production of oat milk in both 1-litre and Ready-to-Drink formats. The facility will incorporate the company’s lupin-based Buntine Protein, producing a beverage that could rival traditional dairy in protein content while offering a creamy texture.

The facility is also expected to yield considerable cost reductions due to improved manufacturing efficiencies, streamlined supply chain operations, and reduced tariffs on exports to key markets like Southeast Asia. In addition, the new facility could hasten the development process for future product releases.

Wide Open Agriculture’s CEO, Jay Albany, expressed his gratitude to the Western Australian Government and noted the grant as a testament to the viability and potential of their high-protein oat milk. “We are immensely grateful for the support and trust vested in us by the Western Australian Government. This grant is not only a financial boost, but it’s also a testament to the viability and potential of our high protein oat milk,” Albany said.

Western Australian Premier Roger Cook, commenting on the grant programme, emphasized the government’s support for local manufacturing: “We’re backing local companies to manufacture here in WA, to value-add, and to take on the world in developing high-tech products for the future.”