Sable Starch
Sable Starch Limited is set up to develop and establish a pea protein and starch processing plant in Southern Malawi. This is a world-scale, fully green, manufacturing investment with substantial social and economic development impact and strong profitability.
Industry
Food Processing
Year
Target 2027
Location
Malawi
Links
Pigeon peas the future of vegetable protein
Building on rising global demand for alternative proteins, increased climate change pressures and existing supply chains, we are establishing a sustainable and transformative facility in Malawi to realise the potential of the prolifically grown and humble pigeon pea.
Sable Starch Limited is set up to develop and establish a pea protein and starch processing plant in Southern Malawi.
This is a world-scale, fully green, manufacturing investment with substantial social and economic development impact and strong profitability.
The plant will process 100,000 MT of pigeon peas. Pigeon peas are a drought resistant, nitrogen-fixing crop primarily grown by smallholder farmers in Malawi. Considering the size of the plant, we will integrate up to 300,000 farmers and stabilize the local value chain.
Sable Starch will leverage on an existing local supply chain, stabilise pigeon pea demand, diversify manufacturing production, drive industrial and structural rural development, while increasing foreign income earnings.
As consumers ́ preferences are shifting away from meat and dairy consumption for their carbon footprint, pigeon pea proteins are a strong carbon neutrality play.
Investments in alternative proteins have the highest CO2 emission savings per dollar of capital invested, of any sector. This makes Sable Starch an end-to-end sustainability play for Malawi, a climate resilient and SDG responsive investment.
This project's expected impact:
Securing livelihoods:
Pigeon peas will be sourced from up to 300,000 smallholder farmers (more than half of whom are women), ensuring regular income.
Increasing value chain stability:
Smallholder and commercial farmers will be provided with a stable market, building on local value addition..
Diversifying the economy:
The outputs produced have several industrial applications in existing processes. Pea protein and starch are innovative products for Malawi.
Increasing foreign income:
3 out of 5 products will be exported in USD. Proteins will position Malawi as a favourable and stable supply source location in the SADC region.
Sable Starch is expected to start production in 2025.
