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Industry Beat: Is the Future of Plant-Based Milk… Homemade? 

Written by Benjamin Davis on . Posted in Technology, The Industry Beat.

by Benjamin Davis, Content Chair, Plant Based World

I’ve spent years covering the rapid evolution of plant-based food, but few innovations have caught my attention quite like this one. I recently had the chance to try the Nama M1 Plant-Based Milk Maker, a sleek device that turns nuts, seeds, and grains into ultra-fresh, clean-label plant milks in under a minute—with minimal mess and no preservatives, gums, or stabilizers. 

I’ll admit—I was skeptical at first. Would making plant-based milk at home really be faster and easier than just grabbing a carton from the store? But after one use, the Nama M1 Milk Maker completely changed my perspective. In under a minute, I had incredibly smooth, creamy cashew milk—with no straining  and minimal leftover pulp. Then, I tried a rich, decadent chocolate walnut milk, which blended perfectly with just walnuts, cacao, and dates. No soaking of the nuts or grains is necessary. The machine self-rinses in seconds, ensuring you receive every last drip, making the entire process far faster than a trip to the grocery store.  

As a journalist in the plant-based industry, I typically focus on the foods themselves… the brands, ingredients, and product launches. But this time, I found myself looking beyond the packaged goods market and into the technological shifts that could change the game for retailers, foodservice operators, and manufacturers alike. 

Could the future of plant-based milk be real-time, on-demand production? 

 

A Wake-Up Call for Retailers and Plant-Based Milk Brands 

Plant-based milk sales have soared over the past decade, fueled by consumer demand for dairy-free, healthier, and more sustainable options. But as more shoppers scrutinize ingredients, processing methods, and freshness, a device like Nama raises the bar for what consumers expect from their milk. 

If a customer can make their own preservative-free almond or oat milk at home—without packaging waste or unnecessary additives—why would they continue buying the carton sitting on the grocery shelf for weeks? 

For natural and premium grocery chains, this presents an opportunity: 

  • In-store fresh plant milks: Imagine a station where customers can make their own on-demand plant milks, similar to fresh-ground nut butter machines already found in many stores. 
  • Private-label house-made milks: Retailers could use Nama-style technology to create store-branded, fresh-made, premium plant milks available by the bottle—shifting from packaged goods to experiential, fresh-food offerings. 

The plant-based milk brands that don’t adapt to this shift—either by improving formulations, increasing transparency, or embracing fresher options—may soon find themselves losing customers to this new wave of DIY, better-than-store-bought alternatives. 

 

Game-Changing for Cafés and Foodservice Operators 

The specialty coffee world is already seeing a shift toward higher-quality plant-based milk options. As customers gain access to barista-worthy milks at home, the days of serving mediocre, mass-market almond or oat milk from a carton may soon be over. 

With devices like the Nama M1, cafés and restaurants could: 

  • Offer premium, made-to-order plant milks at an upcharge, just like they do with specialty coffee beans or alternative brewing methods. 
  • Create a signature house-made plant milk, differentiating themselves from competitors and appealing to high-end, ingredient-conscious customers. 
  • Reduce waste and improve sustainability by making only what they need, when they need it—eliminating the need for cartons and extended shelf-life preservatives. 

A café with a Nama behind the counter could charge a premium for fresh almond milk made from whole, visible almonds right in front of the customer—an experience that creates both trust and excitement. 

 

A Bigger Transformation: The Power Shift in Food Production 

The rise of plant-based food isn’t just about what we eat—it’s also about how we access and prepare our food. 

Devices like the Nama M1 are part of a larger trend redefining the relationship between consumers and food manufacturers. Just as home espresso machines have made consumers more discerning about coffee, at-home milk-making could create a new standard for plant-based beverages. 

Retailers, foodservice operators, and plant-based brands will need to respond accordingly—offering fresher, cleaner, and more customizable options that match the elevated expectations of this new era. 

As for me? My kitchen is newly inspired, and I can’t wait to see how the entire industry rises to the challenge. 

Beyond the Plate: How Plant-Based Innovation is Transforming the World 

Written by Benjamin Davis on . Posted in Manufacturing, Technology, Trends.

The plant-based movement has long been associated with food—alternative meats, dairy-free cheeses, and plant-powered protein. But as new breakthroughs emerge, it’s becoming clear that plant-based innovation reaches far beyond our plates. From environmental restoration to sustainable materials, plants are proving to be powerful tools for solving some of the world’s most pressing challenges. 

Two recent developments highlight just how far plant-based solutions can go: a plant-based compound to combat harmful algae blooms and a pine-based alternative to fossil fuel plastics. These breakthroughs demonstrate the potential of plant-derived solutions to drive sustainability across industries and reshape the way we interact with the environment. 

 

Harnessing Plants to Fight Harmful Algae Blooms 

Harmful algae blooms (HABs) are an escalating global crisis. These overgrowths of algae—fueled by agricultural runoff, climate change, and industrial pollution—deplete oxygen in waterways, produce toxins, and devastate aquatic ecosystems. Traditional chemical-based treatments often create unintended side effects, making it difficult to control these outbreaks sustainably. 

Enter plant-based mitigation strategies. Researchers have developed a plant-derived compound that can safely and effectively reduce harmful algae blooms without harming aquatic life. This breakthrough, recently reported in Phys.org, offers a nature-based alternative to harsh chemical treatments. 

Unlike conventional solutions, which can further disrupt fragile ecosystems, this plant-based compound works by targeting the conditions that fuel algae blooms rather than merely destroying the algae itself. The method reduces phosphorus levels—one of the key nutrients responsible for excessive algae growth—without introducing pollutants into the water supply. 

Why This Matters 

  • Eco-Friendly Water Protection: Unlike chemical treatments, this plant-based alternative doesn’t cause secondary pollution. 
  • Safeguarding Fisheries & Aquatic Life: Reducing algae blooms helps restore fish populations and protect drinking water sources. 
  • Scalable Sustainability: As agricultural and industrial pollution continue to strain waterways, plant-based solutions like this could become critical for maintaining water health globally. 

 

Pine-Based Plastics: A Renewable Alternative to Fossil Fuels 

While algae blooms are devastating waterways, another environmental crisis is filling our landfills and oceans: plastic pollution. Most conventional plastics are derived from fossil fuels, taking centuries to decompose and leaching harmful chemicals into the environment. But a new discovery can change that—scientists at Washington State University have developed a pine-based alternative to fossil-fuel plastics, which could revolutionize the packaging and materials industry. 

This new bio-based foam, created from pine resin, offers similar properties to petroleum-based foams used in insulation, shipping materials, and disposable packaging. Unlike traditional plastics, these plant-based foams are biodegradable, renewable, and significantly reduce the carbon footprint of plastic production. 

Why This Matters 

  • Sustainable Plastic Alternative: This breakthrough offers a renewable replacement for fossil-fuel-based plastics. 
  • Reduced Waste & Pollution: Unlike petroleum-based foams, pine-based foams decompose naturally without microplastic contamination. 
  • Industry-Wide Applications: From packaging to building materials, this plant-based foam could provide a greener alternative to numerous industries reliant on plastic. 

 

These developments reinforce a powerful truth: the plant-based movement is bigger than food. Whether restoring ecosystems or replacing harmful materials, plants are at the forefront of sustainability-driven innovation. 

As consumers, businesses, and policymakers push for greener solutions, plant-based science continues to provide real-world answers.