Biofach 2025 live: Agrana launches first vegan and sustainable alternative to toddler drinks

At the ongoing organic food trade show Biofach (February 11–14), Agrana unveils a vegan, organic beverage base powder for small children that meets their nutritional requirements and parents’ demands for sustainability. 

On the show floor, Nutrition Insight meets with Tamara Ranzenberger-Haider, sales director of Special Nutrition Solutions at Agrana, to discuss the company’s launch. 

“We are delighted to present a very innovative product concerning children’s drinks, especially for toddlers. It’s the only vegan alternative we know that also corresponds with the amino acid profile for young children, and it is based 100% on vegan ingredients.”

She adds: “By using various plant-based protein sources (such as pumpkin or faba bean protein combined with buckwheat), we have been able to develop an amino acid profile that is aligned with EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) recommendations. In addition, the powder can be enriched as needed to meet children’s individual needs.”

The company highlights that children’s drinks are currently almost exclusively based on milk or soy. The new beverage base offers parents an alternative, which benefits toddlers with intolerances as it is free from lactose, soy, and gluten. 

Meanwhile, nutrition ingredient suppliers, such as FrieslandCampina Ingredients, spot growing opportunities for production innovations for children beyond infant nutrition, which is decreasing due to lower global birth rates. 

Functional formulation

Agrana’s formulation combines several plant-based raw materials to ensure both taste and functional benefits. 

“Our infant formula base powder consists of a well-thought-out blend of hydrolyzed buckwheat flour and plant-based proteins (pumpkin seed or faba bean protein),” says Ranzenberger-Haider.

The company needed to combine different protein sources since plant proteins don’t contain all essential amino acids. 

“It’s challenging to have a good nutritional profile, especially for this group,” Ranzenberger-Haider adds. “With this mixture of the raw materials, we could find a way to meet these EFSA and amino acid profile recommendations.” 

At Biofach, Agrana presented two examples, a multifruit, faba-buckwheat drink and a vanilla-flavored pumpkin-buckwheat drink.Infant and child nutrition nutrient recommendations are changing due to scientific advancements. Last year, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization’s Codex Alimentarius updated the composition criteria on formula for children between six months and three years old. 

Specialised Nutrition Europe, representing the EU’s specialized nutrition industry, called on EU legislators to implement this updated standard into EU law to boost the industry. 

Taste and texture

Agrana’s drink powder has been developed in two varieties for its sweet and mild flavors: pumpkin with buckwheat for a slightly nutty pumpkin seed flavor and a combination of faba with buckwheat for a more gentle flavor. 

“As toddlers are susceptible to taste, a naturally sweet, mild flavor composition had to be developed — without artificial flavors or added sugars,” says Ranzenberger-Haider. 

“Plant-based proteins tend to have a less pleasant texture or are not easily soluble. By using hydrolyzed buckwheat flour, we achieved a consistent, easily soluble, and pleasantly creamy texture.”

The powder formulation offers a pleasant mouthfeel that can be prepared either warm or cold. 

Tamara Ranzenberger-Haider, sales director of Special Nutrition Solutions at Agrana.Sustainable nutrition demands

In addition to meeting demands for functional nutrition that can easily be integrated into different concepts, Ranzenberger-Haider says the company’s new vegan and organic product is also in line with a growing demand for sustainable, plant-based nutrition and allergen-friendly products. 

“Most existing children’s drinks are based on milk or soy, which are viewed critically due to their high ecological footprint (especially when they are not of European origin). Instead, our product uses alternative plant-based raw materials that are more sustainable and conserve more resources.”

“Traditional milk substitutes are today mostly based on soy or almonds,” she continues. “In the future, the variety of vegetable proteins will continue to increase — pumpkin, faba beans, and buckwheat are examples of sustainable alternatives.”

She also observes a growing demand for clean label products focusing on a few natural ingredients without artificial additives, while climate-related changes drive a search for sustainable alternatives. 

Agrana offers organic products in all its business segments. Ranzenberger-Haider says the company monitors changes in the market and develops appropriate solutions at the Agrana Research & Development Center to support its customers in developing new products from the beginning.