"MMA Foods: from the Lithuanian outdoors to the future of global food

Eco-friendly production today is no longer limited to a certificate on the packaging. The market demands clarity, traceability and real sustainability solutions along the entire chain, from the field to the final product. This is the principle on which UAB „MMA Foods“, which has already entered international waters, is based its activities.

The company converts organic peas and beans into higher value-added ingredients for both the food and feed industries. Close cooperation with farmers, clear traceability and control have helped MMA Foods to develop a stable, sustainable model that benefits all actors in the chain.

Business starts on the farm

Gediminas Raila, CEO of MMA Foods, says the idea to create a production facility was born out of a search for a niche where it would be possible not only to sell grain but also to create real added value for both farms and the market.

The uniqueness of „MMA Foods“ lies not only in the production process, but also in the company's focus on the provenance of the raw material and the consistent maintenance of quality.

The company does not have its own farm, but has a team of agronomists who work with organic farms, helping to select the most appropriate varieties and technologies to achieve the optimal result – stable yields and maximum quality of the raw material for processing.

„All of this allows us to offer our customers something that often cannot be provided by the big players on the market – traceability back to the farm, information on the varieties used, agronomic technologies, cultivation conditions“, – says G. Raila.

This factor is becoming particularly important in Europe, where consumers and industry want clarity on who grew what, where they grew it, how they grew it, and how this affects the functionality of the final ingredient.

Sustainable technology: mechanical process without water and heat

The technology used in the production of „MMA Foods“ is based on the principle of sustainability. The purification of proteins and starches is a mechanical process, i.e. it uses neither water nor heat. What does this mean?

The peas or beans are milled and the mechanical process separates the main fractions, as far as possible, into proteins and starches. This technology is not only less energy intensive, but also allows „MMA Foods“ to achieve one of the most important sustainability criteria – a smaller CO₂ footprint.

G. Raila points out that compared to the so-called "wet technology", the CO₂ footprint of their production can be about 10 times smaller.

Green energy, quality control and zero waste production

Another key competitive advantage of „MMA Foods“ Ltd. is its production using solar energy. This means that some of the company's sustainability solutions are not declarative but actually implemented.

Sustainability is further enhanced by the short supply chain: raw materials come from nearby farms, reducing transport costs and pollution.

„We only work with certified organic farms that are inspected by „Ekoagros“. However, we additionally apply our own control principles. In other words, the raw material received is checked and the product produced is tested again to ensure that it complies with organic standards," the company's CEO reveals the nuances of quality control.

The tests are carried out using a German laboratory, which, according to UAB „MMA Foods“, is highly sensitive for detecting contamination.

Another important aspect is that production is 100% waste-free, so that the principles of environmental friendliness and sustainability are maintained not only in the raw material chain, but also in the production process itself.

Environmentally friendly ingredients for food and feed

Today, „MMA Foods“ produces and markets the ingredients – organic pea and bean starch and protein. They have applications in a wide range of industries, from animal feed to food products.

„We see a clear market trend – there is a growing demand for alternatives to meat and dairy, as well as for protein-enriched products. Therefore, organic plant proteins are becoming an increasingly important part of the food of the future," says Mr Raila.

The company's plans do not stop with the production of ingredients. One of the main goals is to move to the next stage in the next 3–5 years and produce a final product that ensures long-term stability.

To this end, cooperation with the German Institute and Vilnius University has been established, recipes have been developed, and solutions are planned to be implemented in the future that will enable UAB „MMA Foods“ to become not only a supplier of ingredients, but also a manufacturer of the final product.

February 10-13, „MMA Foods“ will also present its activities to an international audience – the company will participate in one of the world's largest trade fairs in the organic sector, „Biofach 2026“ in Germany. This exhibition is considered to be the most important meeting point for organic market players, mainly for the development of B2B contacts.

UAB „MMA Foods“ does not only develop ingredients. The company develops short, traceable and sustainable food chains where value is created in the field and trust is maintained right through to the end product.

MMA Foods contacts

For more information, please visit www.mmafoods.lt or contact Gediminas Raila, Director of UAB "MMA Foods", at 370 666 00525.