Leaft Foods strikes deal with Lacto Japan to bring leaf-based Rubisco protein to Japanese market

Leaft Foods, a New Zealand company developing protein extracted from green leaves, has announced a strategic partnership with Lacto Japan to accelerate the introduction of its Rubisco Protein Isolate into the Japanese food industry.

The collaboration, revealed on 8 September, combines Leaft’s protein innovation with Lacto’s distribution expertise and longstanding relationships across Japan’s food manufacturing sector. The companies are already engaging with leading manufacturers in categories including plant-based foods, bakery products, and sports nutrition. Their goal is to build a business worth tens of millions of US dollars over the next five years.

Rubisco Protein Isolate, derived directly from leaves, is being promoted as a next-generation alternative to animal-derived proteins. Leaft Foods argues that Rubisco combines nutritional and functional properties that can outperform whey protein. The ingredient offers a complete amino acid profile and high digestibility, positioning it as a potential benchmark for protein nutrition.

The company also emphasizes the functional benefits of its protein. Rubisco can serve as a replacement for eggs, emulsifiers, and gelling agents, while offering clean-label credentials that align with consumer preferences for minimally processed, familiar ingredients. According to Leaft, this functionality enables food manufacturers to reduce reliance on artificial additives while meeting performance standards for texture, stability, and flavor.

The protein is produced through a commercialized system that secures supply through forward contracts, designed to meet both sustainability and quality requirements. Leaft highlights that its process delivers protein with a lower carbon footprint than dairy alternatives, while also providing farmers with new opportunities to diversify land use.

“It has been tremendously exciting to work with Lacto, a capable and innovative partner, as we’ve sought to enter the sophisticated Japanese market,” commented John Penno, Co-founder of Leaft Foods. “Lacto’s role as our trusted local collaborator has been invaluable in providing essential market and supply chain intelligence and relationship management that can enable successful market penetration.”

Tokyo-based Lacto Japan has built a reputation over nearly three decades as a key supplier of dairy and specialty food ingredients. The company is recognized for connecting ingredient producers from New Zealand and Australia with Japanese manufacturers and has developed extensive networks in the protein sector. Its decision to partner with Leaft reflects a growing interest in next-generation proteins within Japan, which is widely regarded as a hub for food innovation.

“It is not every day that you discover such an exciting new protein,” added Takeshi Shimizu, General Manager Oceania at Lacto Japan. “What impressed us most was not only the protein system itself, but the fact that we have been able to work with it in a range of promising applications from the start. The quality, texture and flavor of the foods produced meet the exceptionally high standards that Japanese consumers expect.”

The collaboration is intended to accelerate Leaft’s commercial rollout in innovation-driven markets where demand for sustainable proteins is rising. Japan has emerged as a priority market, both for its consumer expectations and its influence in shaping global food trends.

Leaft’s business model combines scientific research with agricultural integration. Founded by food and farming veterans John Penno and Maury Leyland, and led by industry executive Ross Milne, the company has grown from an experimental project into a commercial venture with international ambitions. Its approach has attracted investment from backers including venture capital firm Khosla Ventures, New Zealand’s indigenous investor Ngāi Tahu, the country’s ACC Climate Change Impact Fund, and NBA player Steven Adams.

The partnership with Lacto Japan fits into this global expansion strategy, complementing existing efforts in the United States. By aligning with a well-established Japanese partner, Leaft aims to reduce barriers to market entry and provide confidence to manufacturers trialing new proteins.

Lacto Japan, which is publicly listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, specializes in the import, distribution, and marketing of dairy products, proteins, and food materials. Founded in 1998, it works with producers worldwide to bring innovative ingredients to Japanese manufacturers.

With early applications already showing promise and several Japanese companies trialing Rubisco Protein Isolate, the collaboration marks a significant step for both partners. For Leaft, it represents an entry into one of the world’s most demanding food markets. For Lacto Japan, it adds a novel protein to its portfolio that could meet growing demand for high-quality, sustainable ingredients.