Water Lentil Protein Facilities
Plantible Foods Secured $25 Million to Scale Its Rubi Protein
Adam Harrie — August 8, 2026
Plantible Foods secured a $25 million USDA OneRD Business & Industry Guaranteed Loan from X-Caliber Rural Capital, the program's maximum, to expand its Rubi Protein production facility in Eldorado, Texas. The financing will support up to 50 new commercial greenhouses at the company's Ranchito facility, increasing annual production capacity for its Lemna-derived plant protein to more than 1,000 metric tons.
Founded by Dutch entrepreneurs Tony Martens and Maurits van de Ven, Plantible has developed a proprietary platform that transforms water lentils into functional food ingredients, with Rubi Protein as its flagship product. Beyond increasing production capacity, the expansion is expected to create new jobs in Schleicher County and support local suppliers throughout construction.
Plantible's expansion demonstrates how USDA rural lending programs can bridge the capital gap for innovative food technology companies seeking to scale beyond pilot production.
