Massey plant-based cheese innovation wins competition
11th September 2023
Dr Debashree Roy from the Riddet Institute at Massey University won the Falling Walls Lab Aotearoa New Zealand competition, pitching breakthrough plant-based cheese technology Chedda-V.
Dr. Debashree Roy, a food technologist from the world-renowned Riddet Institute at Massey University, clinched first place at the prestigious Falling Walls Lab Aotearoa New Zealand competition. The ground-breaking achievement? A revolutionary technology poised to transform the plant-based cheese industry by creating products with nutritional and sensory properties rivalling traditional dairy cheeses.
Despite the growing demand for plant-based cheeses, existing dairy-free alternatives often fall short in terms of protein content and overall palatability compared to their dairy counterparts. Driven by the essential role of protein in a healthy diet and the culinary significance of cheese, the food innovation team at the Riddet Institute embarked on a mission to craft plant-based cheese that is not just nutritious and functional but also delicious.
Dr Debashree Roy with her winning ticket to present in Germany in November.
“Our novel patent pending technology is sustainable and easily scalable,” says Dr Roy. Chedda-V can produce an array of cheese varieties using a range of plant-based proteins such as pea or soy. Sensory evaluations have yielded promising results, with consumers expressing enthusiasm for the creation, Chedda-V.
The Falling Walls Lab competition is an opportunity for the next generation of students and early-career professionals to pitch their innovation idea. Of the twenty-two participants Debashree was selected as the winner and will represent the New Zealand at the Falling Walls Lab Global Finale in Berlin in November. Professor Phil Lester who chaired the jury described the project as a “big breakthrough”.
Watch Debashree's pitch here:
Massey Ventures are working alongside the Riddet Institute on commercialisation of the Chedda-V plant-based cheese technology. Contact us to find out more below.