Key Takeaways
- Green Boy Group, a global B2B supplier of plant-based food ingredients with offices in Los Angeles, Chicago, Amsterdam, Hong Kong, and Sydney, has led an early-stage investment in Fudi Protein, a Dutch startup founded in 2025 that extracts RuBisCO protein from alfalfa.
- RuBisCO protein derived from alfalfa offers a near-complete PDCAAS score of up to 1.0, is white in color with a clean and neutral taste, and demonstrates strong functionality across dairy substitutes, protein beverages, and egg replacement in baking — positioning it as a direct competitor to animal and dairy proteins in both performance and price.
- Fudi Protein’s proprietary alfalfa extraction process uses a localized and mobile processing model: plants are harvested and processed near the fields, and the high-value alfalfa byproduct is returned to local farmers — eliminating the byproduct commercialization challenge that constrains profitability for conventional protein crops such as yellow peas and rice.
- The investment is positioned to benefit from rising consumer protein demand driven in part by the growth of GLP-1 users, whose dietary patterns are shifting toward higher protein and fiber intake, and from the commercial gap for a plant-based protein that can match animal and dairy proteins on both functionality and cost.
- Fudi Protein is led by Udi Lazimy, who brings more than 25 years of experience in alternative proteins and agrifood systems and a track record of bringing novel ingredients to commercial scale; Green Boy Group will support the company through its market knowledge and international distribution network.
Green Boy Group Leads Early-Stage Investment in Fudi Protein
Green Boy Group, a global B2B supplier of plant-based, non-GMO, and organic food ingredients founded in 2016, announced on April 30, 2026 that it has led an early-stage investment in Fudi Protein, a startup utilizing alfalfa to extract RuBisCO protein for food ingredient applications. The investment advances Green Boy Group’s strategy to expand its plant-based protein portfolio and its position as a B2B supplier of next-generation protein ingredients. Financial terms were not disclosed.
“Our investment in Fudi Protein reflects our commitment to advancing the next generation of plant-based proteins,” said Peter van Dijken, Co-Founder and Owner of Green Boy Group. “RuBisCO protein is the holy grail amongst the proteins and enters the market at a time when consumer interest in protein is skyrocketing, driven in large part by the rise of GLP-1 users whose diets are shifting toward higher protein and fiber intake. A complete and sustainable RuBisCO protein that can rival dairy and animal proteins in both price and functionality would be a game-changer.”
RuBisCO from Alfalfa Delivers Near-Complete Amino Acid Profile Across Food Applications
Alfalfa is among the most protein-rich crops on earth and serves as the feedstock for Fudi Protein’s RuBisCO extraction process. The resulting protein achieves a near-complete Protein Digestibility Corrected Amino Acid Score (PDCAAS) of up to 1.0 — a benchmark typically associated with animal and dairy proteins. It is white in color, clean and neutral in taste, and demonstrates functional performance across a range of food applications including dairy substitutes, protein beverages, and egg replacement in baking. These characteristics differentiate RuBisCO from dominant plant-based proteins such as yellow pea and rice, which often present color, taste, or functionality trade-offs in formulation.
Fudi Protein’s Localized Processing Model Differentiates from Traditional Plant Proteins
A key element of Fudi Protein’s approach is its localized and mobile processing model. By harvesting and processing alfalfa in proximity to the fields where it is grown, Fudi Protein can return the high-value alfalfa byproduct directly to local farmers — avoiding the need to sell byproducts such as starches and fibers at specific price points to maintain overall profitability, a structural challenge that affects the economics of yellow pea and rice protein production. The company states that this model also represents a more sustainable approach to plant-based protein production.
“Alfalfa is a highly promising protein source,” said Frederik Otten, Co-Founder and Owner of Green Boy Group. “Fudi Protein holds the key to unlocking its potential and bringing RuBisCO protein to market at scale. We look forward to supporting Udi and his team through our resources, market knowledge, and international network. This innovation fits well within our long-term strategy and in our global distribution portfolio as it moves toward B2B commercialization.”
Fudi Protein was founded in 2025 and is led by Udi Lazimy, a veteran of the plant-based food industry with more than 25 years of experience in alternative proteins and agrifood systems. Green Boy Group was founded in 2016 and operates offices in Los Angeles, Chicago, Amsterdam, Hong Kong, and Sydney.
