The Protein of Tomorrow: Swiss Lupin from Soil to Shelf
New Roots is building a Swiss and European organic lupin value chain, from regenerative agriculture and fermentation science to large-scale food production. Together with our sister brand Yellow Sunshine, we transform locally grown, nitrogen-fixing crops into nutritious everyday foods. We aim to create a food system that works with nature, helps the soils, uses fewer resources, strengthens food security, supports farmers, improves public health and raises ethical standards.
What issue does your project address, and why do you want to tackle it?
Switzerland still relies heavily on imported proteins and resource-intensive animal agriculture supported by subsidies, high land use and hidden climate costs. Farmers need viable crops, soils need regeneration, and people need accessible, healthy protein without cholesterol, lactose or high saturated fats. We tackle this because food security, ethics, ecology and health should become one transparent, resilient system.
What is your project about and how does it help nurture tomorrow's Switzerland?
We scale a unique Swiss lupin variety containing 40% protein and all nine essential amino acids. As a nitrogen-fixing and drought-resilient crop, lupin supports resilient agriculture. We build the farmer network with seeds, agronomic expertise and fair offtake agreements. Through non-GMO fermentation, we turn local lupins into plant-based cheeses and high-protein blocks that replace imported and animal proteins.
How do you measure your project's success?
Success means moving from product innovation to a repeatable Swiss lupin cycle from field to shelf. We aim to onboard 5–10 Swiss farms per year, secure cultivation and offtake contracts, and measure hectares cultivated, yield, protein output, farmer margins, offtake volumes, soil nitrogen indicators and product sales through Yellow Sunshine and New Roots channels. Beyond this, we will measure how our products help shift diets from animal to plant-based protein on a societal level, supported by a
Who are the people behind the project and what is your secret to a great collaboration?
The project is led by founders Alice and Freddy with New Roots, founded in Bern in 2016, and sister brand Yellow Sunshine, which manages the lupin supply chain and farming partnerships. Our mission-aligned team combines agriculture, fermentation science, cheesemaking, brand building, operations, finance and strategy. Our strength lies in in-house know-how, entrepreneurial thinking and a shared drive to build fairer food systems for future generations.
