MONTREAL — The Cocagne project, led by the Bel Group, the company that owns such brands as The Laughing Cow and Babybel, is a new initiative that will focus on developing fermented and ripened plant-based cheese alternatives. The project has support from such companies as Lallemand Specialty Cultures; Avril, a vegetable oil and protein-focused company; Protial, a service provider in the agri-food industry; and Bpifrance, a French public sector investment bank for entrepreneurs through the France 2030 program.
The project includes an investment of approximately $9.45 million over three years.
The Cocagne project’s objectives include enhancing the taste and nutritional quality of alternative cheeses through fermentation; prioritizing local, sustainable and environmentally friendly plant-based ingredients; making plant-based alternatives accessible in terms of price and distribution; and allowing consumers to maintain their dietary habits while integrating plant-based options.
“Developing ripened plant-based products is a significant challenge that requires us to rethink our traditional approach to the ecology of fermented products,” said Pablo Alvarez, director of R&D at Lallemand Specialty Cultures. “We must create specific cultures tailored to the nutrients in plant-based raw materials while ensuring they produce the desired flavors, aromas, and textures.”