Project Tofu

Building low-emission systems using local nitrogen-fixing legumes to make carbon-negative tofu

The Challenge

Synthetic nitrogen fertiliser drives up to 5% of global emissions. The UK’s CBAM, landing in 2027, will push fertiliser costs up 20-30%. Native legumes fix nitrogen naturally, but with no structured market they stay commercially unviable. Meanwhile the UK imports soy, undercutting regenerative crops we could grow at home.

The Opportunity

Project Tofu turns native UK legumes into tofu, creating demand-pull for regenerative farming. We’ve built processing methods that handle fava’s unique starch and protein profiles, and redesigned the supply chain: local manufacturing, reusable packaging, byproduct up-cycled into animal feed. Every block cuts fertiliser use and restores soil health.

The team

Jesslin Ho

Co-Founder

The Venture

Business Model

B2B wholesale to vegetarian restaurants and premium grocers. A restaurant uses up to 50kg tofu weekly at £8.50/kg equivalent to £15-22k per account year. British legumes cost up to 2.5x less than imported non-GMO soy, giving a margin advantage. Cash flow from Phase 1 contracts funds expansion into retail.

Competition

The UK tofu market is worth £110m, growing ~15% annually, dominated by soy-based brands which do not use British-grown legumes or address fertiliser dependency. Indirect competitors (tempeh, seitan, mycoprotein) don’t touch agricultural sourcing. Project Tofu’s demand-pull model links consumer choice to measurable nitrogen reduction.

Traction

Three years of R&D validated our idea. Consistent weekly fava tofu output, first retail account secured with Minimise, strategic partnership with Hodmedod’s. Evidence of success: a Michelin-starred kitchen cooked our tofu using multiple methods and gave positive feedback, alongside purchase intent from premium grocers and chefs during taste testing.

Project Tofu

The Challenge

The Opportunity

The team

Stage

Programme

Industry / Sector

Cohort

The Venture

Business Model

Competition

Traction

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