Plant-based products place Reading on Pea-licious podium

A team of University of Reading students who developed nutritious, plant-based, ready-to-consume yogurt and drink have been highly commended in an EIT Food competition.

‘Pea-Licious’ is a food solutions program funded by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology. Students from the University of Reading’s School of Agriculture, Policy and Development (SAPD) and the Food and Nutritional Sciences (FNS) department were challenged to create a convenient, nutritious, plant-based, ready-to-eat meal derived from rotational crops.

Reading’s Pea-Licious team won second prize in the competition with their innovative product, PeaChata, a plant-based drink suitable for both children and adults. Their other creation, Yogipot, a plant-based yogurt specifically designed for children also received positive feedback from the judges, along with constructive advice for further development.

Dr Yiorgos Gadanakis, Principal Investigator in the Department of Agriculture at the University of Reading, said: “The products developed by University of Reading students were designed to target children’s developmental needs while also being tasty and filling. 

“The recognition Reading received from expert judges shows our students were able to successfully identify and address a gap in the plant-based food market.

“This experience will give our students the confidence to go on and start their own businesses, work in the food industry as consultants, or become innovators in kitchens all over the world.” 

Alongside the competition, which got underway in April 2024, participants also benefited from courses in sustainable business development, entrepreneurship, innovation, problem-solving, leadership, technology management, and core business fundamentals.

The results of the competition, which included teams from the University of Reading, the University of Porto, the University of Valencia and the University of Turin, were announced in November 2024.