SunRice has given an everyday staple a protein boost as Australians look for more ways to up their intake.

Responding to growing demand for protein-rich foods, the new SunRice Microwave Protein+ range gives a familiar pantry staple an added protein boost, delivering at least 10g per serve. The product adds collagen to Jasmine, brown and basmati rice, combining added protein with the convenience of rice ready in “just” 90 seconds.

SunRice CEO ANZ Ganesh Kashyap says the launch demonstrates the opportunity to drive meaningful innovation in even the most established grocery categories.

“Rice is one of the world’s most familiar and widely consumed foods, which makes the opportunity to innovate within the category incredibly exciting. For SunRice, innovation is about looking at how consumer needs are changing and finding new ways for a trusted staple like rice to remain relevant to those needs,” he says.

“SunRice Microwave Protein+ represents an important step forward for the category. By bringing more protein into a product Australians already know and use every day, we’re creating something genuinely new within rice while building on the role SunRice has played in Australian kitchens for generations.”

From idea to innovation

SunRice approached CSIRO to help develop high-protein rice products. Through this collaboration, scientists from the CSIRO Food Innovation Centre in Werribee, Victoria identified the use of specific protein peptides that could be absorbed into the rice grain during retort processing and related manufacturing operations.

To strengthen the scientific foundation of the invention, SunRice further collaborated with the CSIRO team on targeted research to evaluate the scientific feasibility of the concept, investigate peptide uptake mechanisms, assess processing parameters, quantify protein fortification outcomes, and generate data to support and refine the patent claims.

SunRice led all commercialisation activities, including product development, scale-up and manufacturing trials, resulting in going from idea to commercialisation in less than two years with the launch of products including the SunRice Microwave Protein+ rice.

The product

SunRice Microwave Protein+ is available in Jasmine, brown and basmati varieties across convenient pouch and cup formats.

“The range can be enjoyed on its own or used as the base for everyday favourites paired with ingredients including grilled chicken, salmon, tuna, tofu and vegetables, making it suitable for everything from meal prep and workday lunches to quick weeknight dinners and meals on the go,” says SunRice.

SunRice Microwave Protein+ is gluten-free and contains no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives.

The range is available from Coles, Woolworths and IGA nationally.