Green Queen: New Zealand’s Leaft Foods Unveils Pre-Workout Rubisco Protein Drink

Originally published by Green Queen on August 14, 2025

Author: Anay Mridul

Original article:

https://www.greenqueen.com.hk/new-zealand-leaft-foods-blade-rubisco-protein-drink/

Why this matters

This Green Queen story marks a milestone for us at Leaft because it showcases the first time any Rubisco protein has ever been brought all the way through development into a consumer-facing product. Leaft Blade isn’t just a new drink; it’s the first widely available commercial example of protein sourced directly from green leaves rather than seed crops or animals. 

What makes this significant is that Blade delivers complete protein with a superior amino acid profile, fast digestibility, and the kind of functional nutrition that meets the needs of athletes and active people — and importantly, it does so with a fraction of the environmental impact of traditional dairy or animal proteins. 

This isn’t just a product launch. It represents the real-world proof point of our technology platform: unlocking value from green biomass in a way that outperforms conventional proteins nutritionally, functionally, and environmentally. It brings to life our belief that the future of protein doesn’t have to go through animals or seeds — it can come straight from photosynthetic efficiency at scale.

Excerpt from the article

"Targeting the performance nutrition sector, a New Zealand-based food tech firm is bringing the world’s most abundant protein to market in liquid form.

Unlike most plant proteins, which are derived from the seeds, Rubisco is found in the leaves of green plants, and is a complete protein with significant functional, nutritional and environmental benefits.

The concept is what lends Leaft Foods its name. The startup has introduced its first consumer product, Leaft Blade, a ready-to-drink offering featuring 17g of Rubisco protein that digests up to six times faster than traditional proteins."

(Excerpt reproduced for commentary purposes. All rights remain with the original publisher.)

Read the complete story on Green Queen

https://www.greenqueen.com.hk/new-zealand-leaft-foods-blade-rubisco-protein-drink/

About Leaft Foods

Leaft Foods harnesses the planet's most plentiful protein, extracted directly from green leaves, to make industry-defining products with a fraction of the carbon footprint of conventional dairy protein. Leaft's allergen-free Rubisco protein matches animal proteins in digestibility and nutritional profile and allows their farmer-growers to diversify how they use their land. Founded in New Zealand by highly experienced corporate leaders John Penno and Maury Leyland, who bring deep expertise in food and farming, and led by food industry veteran Ross Milne, Leaft has evolved from a kitchen experiment into a proven sustainable protein solution for pasture-based agricultural economies worldwide. Now accelerating its expansion with a focus on the United States, the company's transformative approach has attracted diverse backers including prominent Silicon Valley firm Khosla Ventures, NBA basketball star Steven Adams, indigenous investor Ngāi Tahu and ACC. Learn more at LeaftFoods.com and LeaftBlade.com