Manoj Kumar

Vice President & Chief Technical Officer, Plant Proteins Business

Louis Dreyfus Company

Dr. Manoj Kumar is the Vice President and Chief Technical Officer for the Plant Proteins business at Louis Dreyfus Company (LDC), where he leads global technology, innovation, and process development initiatives for plant-based ingredients. Based in Livermore, California, he plays a key leadership role in advancing LDC’s investments in plant protein production, including the company’s pea protein facility in Yorkton, Canada. Prior to joining the Group, he was Chief Technology Officer at Ripple Foods, leading the R&D, technical and product development teams working on alternative plant proteins and dairy-free food products. He worked for 13 years at DSM, in various science and technology innovation roles of increasing responsibility, and covering multiple food ingredients sectors, including food biotechnology, food and crop protection. In parallel, Manoj has led several large research projects, some of these at universities in the US and Germany, authored and contributed to various patents and publications, and holds a PhD in Chemistry from the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (India).

With extensive experience in industrial biotechnology, food ingredients, and process engineering, Dr. Kumar focuses on scaling sustainable protein solutions and driving innovation across the value chain—from raw material processing to ingredient functionality and application development. His work supports the growing global demand for plant-based nutrition and sustainable food systems.

Dr. Kumar collaborates closely with industry partners, research institutions, and government organizations to accelerate advancements in plant proteins and bioprocessing technologies. He frequently contributes to strategic discussions on global market dynamics, innovation ecosystems, and the future of food and ingredient manufacturing.

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