Plant Based Foods Institute

What Plant Based Foods Institute does

Plant Based Foods Institute (PBFI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2022 and headquartered at 1 Embarcadero Center, Suite 1200, San Francisco. It is the sister organization to the Plant Based Foods Association (PBFA), the U.S. trade association representing the plant-based foods industry. Rather than a commercial product company, PBFI operates as a value-chain builder and coordinator, connecting agriculture, markets, and public policy to make plant-based foods more accessible. Its operating model is partnership-based: the organization facilitates connections across researchers, farmers, processors, manufacturers, retailers, foodservice operators, institutional buyers, and policymakers rather than selling products directly.

PBFI's core programs include the Sustainable Sourcing Initiative (SSI, launched 2021), the Domestic Sourcing Initiative (DSI, transferred from PBFA in 2022), and the Plant-Based Foods Global Alliance (launched 2022, spanning national trade associations across the Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australasia). The organization publishes proprietary retail-insights research using SPINS data—such as its annual Regional Retail Insights report documenting $7.9B in 2025 U.S. plant-based retail sales, 60% U.S. household penetration, and a 78% repeat purchase rate—and operates through a content-and-coordination go-to-market model. Its technology surface is best characterized as a value-chain coordination platform connecting agricultural producers with plant-based food companies and markets, with a forthcoming Plant-to-Market Alliance intended to digitally link U.S. growers to food-grade markets and institutional buyers.

PBFI's revenue mechanics are not pricing-based; the organization is funded as a 501(c)(3) and does not publicly disclose pricing or financials. It supports 11–50 employees, partners with named manufacturers (Oatly, Upfield/Country Crock, House Foods, Upton's Naturals, Lupii, Snacktivist Foods, Jenny's Tofu), academic institutions (University of Minnesota Plant Protein Innovation Center, University of Minnesota Forever Green Initiative, Tufts Friedman School, UC Plant Futures Challenge Lab), and nonprofits (Mad Agriculture, Practical Farmers of Iowa, Timeless Seeds, Transfarmation). No funding rounds, investors, acquisitions, or proprietary technology patents are disclosed.

Name

Plant Based Foods Institute

Legal name

Plant Based Foods Institute

Website

https://pbfinstitute.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Plant Based Foods Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that coordinates the U.S. plant-based value chain, connecting farmers, processors, manufacturers, retailers, foodservice operators, and policymakers through sourcing programs, market-research publications, and policy advocacy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Food Industry Advocacy

akta.pro primary industry

Governance, Public Financial Management & Service Delivery Reform (BPADAEAD)

Keywords

• Plant-based food advocacy
• Food value chain coordination
• Agricultural supply chain development
• Nonprofit industry research
• Farm-to-market partnerships

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Research and Market Intelligence Services: PBFI provides market data, insights, and reports to food companies, retailers, and foodservice operators. The organization publishes retail insights reports and provides data-driven guidance on plant-based market trends.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

PBFI is a nonprofit value-chain builder and coordinator that connects agriculture, markets, and public policy to make plant-based foods more accessible. The organization facilitates sourcing partnerships between U.S. farmers and plant-based food manufacturers, publishes market intelligence and consumer research, and coordinates policy advocacy efforts. It operates programs including the Sustainable Sourcing Initiative, Domestic Sourcing Initiative, Plant-to-Market Alliance, and the Plant-Based Foods Global Alliance.

Product overview

Plant Based Foods Institute (PBFI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and sister organization to the Plant Based Foods Association (PBFA). Rather than a commercial product company, PBFI operates as a value-chain builder and coordinator, providing industry intelligence, market research reports, and coordination services across the plant-based food ecosystem. The organization connects agricultural producers, processors, manufacturers, retailers, and policymakers through programs including the Sustainable Sourcing Initiative (SSI) and Domestic Sourcing Initiative (DSI), the Plant-Based Foods Global Alliance, and publishes research such as the annual Regional Retail Insights report.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sustainable Sourcing Initiative (SSI) Initiative that connects U.S. farmers to the plant-based foods industry through domestic sourcing partnerships, facilitating relationships between agricultural producers and food manufacturers. Launched in 2021 and transferred to PBFI when the organization was established in 2022.
• Domestic Sourcing Initiative (DSI) Program focused on domestic ingredient sourcing for plant-based food companies, helping manufacturers build durable domestic supply chains and connecting them with U.S. growers and processors. Originally under PBFA and now an initiative of PBFI.
• Plant-Based Foods Global Alliance Coalition of national and regional plant-based food trade associations across the Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australasia. PBFI serves as the strategic lead, coordinating global positioning and policy efforts for the plant-based food sector.
• Plant-to-Market Alliance Program that connects farmers to regional food-grade markets and supports the agronomic and economic transitions that make growing plant-based crops a viable business decision. Links farmers with processors and manufacturers in the plant-based food value chain.
• Regional Retail Insights Report Annual market research publication providing proprietary retail data and consumer insights on plant-based food purchasing patterns across U.S. regions. Used by food manufacturers, retailers, and foodservice operators to inform sourcing, expansion, and product strategy decisions.

Quantifiable outcome

• 60% of U.S. households now purchase plant-based foods with 78% repeat purchase rate
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and major.

• Plant Protein Innovation Center (PPIC) - University of MinnesotaflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 May 2024Co-hosted the 'Field to Foodservice: Plant Protein Innovation that Performs At Scale' workshop convening researchers, food companies, foodservice professionals, farm groups, and school nutrition leaders.
• Plant Based Foods Association (PBFA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPBFA is PBFI's sister organization—the U.S. trade association representing the plant-based foods industry. PBFI brings market intelligence and industry connections to the PBFA's trade advocacy work.
• Mad AgriculturecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormal partnership providing a 'service package' for plant-based food companies including financing for regenerative farmers, land and business planning, and connections to values-aligned brands.
• Transfarmation (Mercy for Animals)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsoring conferences to bring together trade association directors, food brand leaders, nonprofit leaders, investors, and retail executives to identify barriers and craft solutions for sustainable food supply.
• Practical Farmers of IowacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity-based organization connecting Oatly with Iowa farmers for regenerative oat sourcing, operating grain cost share programs and farmer network development.
• Tufts University - Friedman School of Nutrition Science and PolicymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partnership studying farmer perspectives on growing for plant-based foods, analyzing yellow pea agricultural landscape, and interviewing companies on ingredient sourcing challenges.
• University of Minnesota - Forever Green InitiativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerField tour partner showcasing crops for next-generation regional plant protein production including winter peas, camelina, pennycress, hazelnuts, and Kernza.
• Timeless SeedsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperative of approximately 50 organic farmers in Montana partnering with Lupii for domestic lupini bean sourcing.
• Plant Futures Challenge Lab - UCmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch collaboration analyzing consumer shift from animal-based to plant-based foods in retail environments.
• International Plant Based Foods Working Group (IPBFWG)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition of eight international plant-based food trade associations coordinating global positioning and policy efforts, including organizations from USA, Canada, Europe, India, Mexico, and China.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Plant Based Foods Association: PBFI's sister 501(c)(6) trade association representing U.S. plant-based food companies; shares leadership, mission, and member overlap, but focuses on trade advocacy and industry promotion rather than supply-chain coordination and research.
• The Good Food Institute (GFI): 501(c)(3) nonprofit working to accelerate alternative protein (plant-based, cultivated, fermentation) adoption through science, policy, and corporate engagement; operates in the same plant-based foods advocacy space with overlapping members, funders, and policy goals.
• Food Tank: Nonprofit focused on building a global community for safe, healthy, nourished eaters through research, reporting, and convening on food systems; comparable as a food-system-focused nonprofit producing research and convening stakeholders.

Broad incumbents

• Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI): Consumer advocacy nonprofit focused on nutrition, food safety, and health, with a long history of influencing food labeling and policy; comparable as a food-policy-focused advocacy organization targeting both industry and government.
• International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI): International CGIAR research institute providing evidence-based policy research on food systems, agriculture, and nutrition globally; comparable as a research-driven food and agricultural policy organization with global reach.
• American Farm Bureau Federation: Large, established U.S. agricultural trade association representing farmers and ranchers on federal and state policy; represents the commodity-crop incumbency whose lobbying directly shapes the policy environment PBFI seeks to reform.
• Environmental Working Group (EWG): Established nonprofit advocating on agricultural policy, food safety, and transparency issues including pesticide use and crop subsidies; comparable as a long-running advocacy nonprofit shaping food and agricultural policy in the U.S.

Emerging players

• Naturally Network: Network of natural products industry executives and entrepreneurs supporting brands and retailers in the natural and plant-based category; comparable as an emerging community-builder in the same plant-based ecosystem PBFI serves.

Others

• Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE): USDA-funded grants and outreach program supporting sustainable agriculture research and on-farm innovation; comparable as an enabler for the kind of crop-transition and regenerative-agriculture research PBFI coordinates with farmers.
• Food Policy Action (formerly Food Policy Action Education Fund): Nonprofit holding members of Congress accountable on food and agriculture votes; comparable as a policy-focused organization operating in the same U.S. food-system advocacy arena, though focused on legislative scorecards rather than supply-chain coordination.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/pbfinstitute
• Facebookfacebook.com/pbfinstitute
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/plant-based-foods-institute

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Plant Based Foods Institute