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Vivici Launches Animal-Free Dairy Protein in the US Active Nutrition Market

März 4, 2025

Ingredients startup Vivici has introduced Vivitein™ BLG, a precision-fermented dairy protein, to the US market. The beta-lactoglobulin (BLG) protein, produced without the use of animals, is positioned for use in the active nutrition sector, which was valued at $28.4 billion globally in 2023. Vivici, founded in 2023 and backed by dsm-firmenich and Fonterra, specializes in precision fermentation technology. The company’s flagship ingredient, Vivitein™ BLG, is self-affirmed as Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) in the US and is available for B2B customers developing products such as protein beverages, powders, and bars. According to Vivici, the ingredient offers functional benefits, including improved solubility in water-based drinks, rapid absorption in protein powders, and a texture comparable to traditional dairy-based protein bars. Vivici CEO Stephan van Sint Fiet stated …

Vegan cheese made with animal-free caseins

Image courtesy of Fermify

Company News

Fermify Secures US GRAS Status for Fermented Casein, Animal-Free Dairy Tastings on Horizon

Oktober 15, 2024

Fermify, an Austrian precision fermentation company developing milk proteins, announces it has obtained self-affirmed Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) status for its precision-fermented casein after conducting a comprehensive safety study, as per FDA requirements. The GRAS milestone validates the quality and safety of Fermify’s casein and is crucial for introducing animal-free cheese and dairy products to the US market. It also positions Fermify as one of the few suppliers of fermented casein in the country. The company says it has also voluntarily notified the FDA of its GRAS conclusion and is now pending a “no questions” letter confirming the status. “This is a key development for Fermify and the entire precision fermentation sector. We are one of the first companies to sell their casein proteins …

Fermentation

DairyX Uses Yeast to Develop Smart Casein Proteins for Animal-Free Dairy

September 26, 2024September 26, 2024

Israel’s DairyX Foods has announced a major development in its work to create authentic animal-free milk proteins using precision fermentation. The startup has created a new method that uses yeast to produce “smart casein proteins” that can self-assemble into micelles, the primary building blocks of dairy products. Additionally, it has refined a technology that enhances the gelation of the micelles, allowing for the development of firm, stretchy animal-free dairy products using traditional dairy manufacturing processes. This method could eliminate the need for additives such as stabilizers, emulsifiers, and thickeners. It could also help to make animal-free dairy affordable, as the company is creating yeast strains that produce exceptionally high casein yields in short timeframes. Furthermore, it provides a “drop-in replacement” for milk, meaning it can …

Company News

21st.BIO’s Precision Fermented Whey for Animal-Free Dairy Obtains US GRAS Status

September 4, 2024September 4, 2024

Danish fermentation upscaling partner 21st.BIO announces that it has earned self-affirmed Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) status for its precision fermented beta-lactoglobulin, BLG Essential+. The GRAS milestone assures that 21st. BIO’s animal-free whey is safe for human consumption, allowing its commercialization within US territory. According to the biotech company, beta-lactoglobulin, the predominant protein in milk’s whey, has garnered significant interest from producers due to its high nutritional quality and beneficial properties for food product formulation. BLG Essential+ is said to boast essential and branched-chain amino acids, offering 45% more leucine than commercially available whey protein isolates. In addition, it is tasteless, pH-stable, and heat-tolerant, making it easy to incorporate into foods, from alt-dairy to protein drinks to bakery products. Precision-fermented whey for protein suppliers Founded in …

The Israeli-based food-tech startup NewMoo has emerged from stealth mode, unveiling a plant molecular farming platform for producing caseins in agricultural plant seeds.

Image courtesy of NewMoo

Cultivated, Cell-Cultured & Biotechnology

NewMoo Emerges from Stealth Using Plant Seeds as ‘Bioreactors’ to Grow Casein Proteins for Animal-Free Dairy

Mai 28, 2024

NewMoo has emerged from stealth mode, unveiling a plant molecular farming platform for producing caseins in agricultural plant seeds. “Our approach doesn’t require expensive bioreactor machinery to grow our proteins. The plant seeds themselves act as bioreactors,” explains the Israeli startup. Considered the “holy grail” of milk structure by the dairy industry, caseins are responsible for the taste and functional properties consumers love about cheese: melting, stretching, and bubbling. NewMoo claims that its caseins are equivalent to cow-derived proteins in terms of nutrition, composition, and functionality. By utilizing plants instead of cows for production, NewMoo offers a cost-effective, animal-free, and sustainable method for creating a wide range of dairy products, including cheese. Daphna Miller, NewMoo co-founder and CEO, comments, “This method of making previously animal-based foods …

Manufacturing & Technology

21st.BIO Opens Access to its Large-Scale Production Platform for Animal-Free Dairy Proteins

Januar 31, 2024

21st.BIO, a Danish bioproduction firm offering integrated end-to-end services, announces that it is granting access to its precision fermentation technology platform to produce animal-free dairy proteins. The new service aims to offer ingredient manufacturers, from startups to leading companies, cost-effective solutions to accelerate the development of sustainable dairy proteins at a competitive cost. 21st.BIO states it has the industry’s most advanced precision fermentation technology platform for large-scale production. Its fermentation technology is partly licensed from Novonesis (a merger of Novozymes and Chr. Hansen Holding), which has developed its platform over several decades to produce food-grade ingredients. Thomas Schmidt, CEO of 21st.BIO, comments: “We founded 21st.BIO with one simple mission: to make precision fermentation technology accessible to as many companies as possible, so they can successfully take their …

Company News

Imagindairy Advances Precision Fermentation Production for Animal-Free Dairy Ingredients

Januar 17, 2024Januar 17, 2024

Israeli food tech startup Imagindairy reached a significant milestone today with the acquisition and operation of its industrial-scale precision fermentation production lines, which are dedicated to producing alternative dairy ingredients. The company claims that this achievement positions Imagindairy as the first company in the industry to fully own and operate its own industrial-scale production lines exclusively for animal-free milk proteins. The company’s fermentation technology, combined with increased production capacity, enables Imagindairy to offer animal-free products to brands at competitive prices, at price parity with traditional dairy. Co-founder and CEO of Imagindairy, Dr. Eyal Afergan, comments, “Having just entered the landscape three years ago, this achievement is a big step forward for us. We’ve overcome industry-wide hurdles that have previously hindered precision fermentation dairy, including addressing …

Fermentation

Australia’s Eden Brew Secures $24.4 Million for Animal-Free Dairy Expansion

Oktober 3, 2023

Australian precision fermentation company Eden Brew has raised $24.4 million in a Series A round led by previous investor Main Sequence Ventures to introduce animal-free dairy in the alt protein market. Eden Brew was established in 2021 through a partnership between Norco, a 100% Australian farmer-owned dairy cooperative, and Australian science agency CSIRO and its deep tech venture fund Main Sequence Ventures. The company uses a precision fermentation process based on science know-how developed at CSIRO. The company claims its platform produces casein proteins that deliver the same nutrition, functionalites, sensory qualities and bioavailability as cow’s milk. In May 2022, Eden Brew also raised $6.9 million from Main Sequence and US investor Digitalis Venture. Other participants in the round include Breakthrough Victoria, Orkla, Digitalis Ventures, Possible …

Fermentation

Netherlands-Based Vivici Closes Seed Round to Bring Animal-Free Dairy Proteins to Market

August 14, 2023

Newcomer Vivici B.V., a Dutch B2B ingredients company, announces it has successfully closed its seed funding round to bring to market animal-free animal-free dairy proteins made with precision fermentation, with strategic support from founding investors dsm-firmenich Venturing and Fonterra. Headquartered at the Biotech Campus Delft and a dairy protein application lab in the Food Valley at NIZO food research, leveraging the Netherlands’ network and access to scale-up facilities and talent, the company draws on the founders’ experience in developing and scaling bioprocesses. Fonterra Chief Innovation & Brand Officer Komal Mistry-Mehta, says: “Vivici is an exciting opportunity to combine dsm-firmenich’s world-leading precision fermentation expertise with Fonterra’s world-leading dairy science and technology.” Vivici was incorporated in December 2022 to bring animal-free dairy proteins to …

Politics & Law

Dairy Farmers’ Letter to the FDA: “It is Baseless, Preposterous and Absurd” to Refer to Animal-Free Dairy as Milk

Juli 4, 2023

The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) has written a letter to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) urging it to ban the word ‘milk’ in the labeling of synthetic food products, arguing it violates the federal dairy Standard of Identity. The NMPF argues that milk is “the lacteal secretions of healthy cows (are dairy cows healthy?) and that alternatives made with synthetic dairy proteins simply use the word to masquerade as natural. NMPF’s highlight of mislabeling is Bored Cow’s animal-free dairy milk made with precision fermentation-derived whey protein and other ingredients such as oils, sugars, water, vitamins, and minerals. Bored Cow’s animal-free milk launched at US natural foods retailer Sprouts Farmers Market this April. The company claims its milk alternative contains 8g of protein per cup (like …

Danone invests in Imagindairy to develop animal-free dairy

Company News

Danone Embraces the New Era of Animal-Free Dairy with Investment in Imagindairy

April 28, 2023

Israeli biotech company Imagindairy recently announced it has received an investment from dairy giant Danone through its corporate venture arm, Danone Manifesto Ventures. As a strategic investor (the amount was not disclosed), Danone will join Imagindairy’s journey in making microbial proteins by leveraging precision fermentation. These novel proteins will allow manufacturers to produce animal-free dairy with all the nutritional values of traditional milk in a sustainable way. Earlier this month, Danone led a $3.5 million strategic investment round in Israel’s Wilk. It invested $2 million, revealing its interest in joining Wilk to develop cell-based dairy and infant formula components. Steakholder Foods, a 3D-printed cultivated meat company, also participated in the round. Making animal-free products a reality “Imagindairy is thrilled to work with Danone Manifesto Ventures, which is bringing strategic and …

Fermentation

This Week in Animal-Free Dairy: Whey Protein Startups Navigate the Industry Challenges

März 3, 2023März 3, 2023

This week, new developments from whey protein startups Remilk, Perfect Day, and emerging food tech Daisy Lab give us a closer look at some challenges these companies face to make animal-free dairy a reality. Remilk postpones plans for precision fermentation in Denmark Earlier this month, Remilk announced it had postponed its plans to build the “world’s largest full-scale precision fermentation facility” in Denmark. The Israel-based startup has now said that to accelerate its production goals, a contract manufacturer in Western Europe would produce the company’s whey proteins using its patented methods. Last year, Remilk raised $120 million to scale its animal-free protein production, envisioning its first precision fermentation facility in Europe. “Increased demand for our protein led us to focus on immediate production solutions that …

©General Mills

Products & Launches

General Mills Launches Bold Cultr Cream Cheese Made with Remilk Animal-Free Dairy

Januar 16, 2023

Alt-dairy startup Remilk announces global food giant General Mills is launching Bold Cultr Cream Cheese made with Remilk’s animal-free protein. Now available in the state of Minnesota, with wider distribution planned, the product marks Remilk’s first commercial collaboration. Described as a lactose-free, next-gen cream cheese alternative, Bold Cultr features Remilk’s dairy-identical proteins produced through precision fermentation. The cream cheese, currently available in a Plain variety, also prominently displays Remilk’s logo on its packaging. According to Remilk, this is the first of three cream cheeses the company will be launching, with new flavors such as Onion & Chive and Strawberry also in the works, reports CTech. “We provide raw material that allows companies to produce a product with the same taste and texture, and it will …

©Bel Brands USA

Products & Launches

Update: Bel Brands USA Unveils First Animal-Free Dairy with Nurishh Incredible Dairy and Laughing Cow Plant-Based

Januar 5, 2023

Update Jan 4th: Comment from Bel USA as follows. Due to unforeseen production challenges of The Laughing Cow Plant-Based, rollout in the US has been delayed. We remain excited and eager for The Laughing Cow fans to try it when it’s available on shelves. Following the successful launches of Babybel Plant Based and Boursin Dairy-Free, Bel Brands USA announces the launch of The Laughing Cow Plant Based and Nurishh Incredible Dairy Animal Free Cream Cheese – its first animal-free product created in partnership with Perfect Day. Debuting at select retailers, including Kroger and Whole Foods, the new offerings include: The Laughing Cow Plant Based – Certified plant-based and vegan, The Laughing Cow Plant Based delivers the same taste and creamy spreadability people know and love. …

©Unilever

Company News

Unilever May Launch Its First Animal-Free Dairy Ice Cream in 2023

November 23, 2022November 22, 2022

Multinational food giant Unilever reveals it is currently using precision fermentation techniques to develop its first animal-free dairy ice cream. The company might launch its first precision-fermented ice cream product sometime next year, reports Bloomberg. Unilever is the world’s largest ice cream manufacturer and owns top-selling brands like Ben & Jerry’s, Breyers, Magnum, and Klondike. Andy Sztehlo, Unilever’s head of research and development, says the company is working with several startups on animal-free versions of its ice cream, and if successful, would likely launch fermented dairy proteins in one of its major brands in 2023. He also noted he had recently tasted prototypes. The entry into animal-free dairy is part of Unilever’s environmental stategy, which seeks to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions produced by its …

Cheese Alternatives

Fermify and Bilfinger Team Up to Make Animal-Free Dairy Economically Viable

November 17, 2022November 17, 2022

Fermify and Bilfinger Life Science have revealed that they are collaborating to address the issue of producing animal-free milk proteins on a large scale. Based in Austria, Fermify is developing an automated production platform for fermentation-derived casein. The company began working with Bilfinger — a plant engineering firm — with the aim of significantly reducing capital expenditure. Bilfinger’s main role is to build modular automated precision fermentation skids for the platform. According to Fermify, the collaboration has already reduced the cost of fermentation assets by three times, which will ultimately provide large-scale food companies with cost-effective in–house production of bioprocessed novel goods. The platform is aimed at companies with no biotech competencies of their own, such as dairy factories. Pre-seed funding In May, Fermify announced …

Investments & Acquisitions

India’s Phyx44 Raises $1.2M for Animal-Free Dairy Fats & Proteins

November 9, 2022

Bangalore-based Phyxx44 claims to be India’s first full-stack precision fermentation startup, using microbes to produce animal-free casein, whey protein, and dairy fats. The company says its goal is to “reconstruct dairy from the ground up” by developing alternatives to all the components. The whey protein and casein have already been produced at lab scale, and are in the process of being further scaled up. According to Phyxx44, the fat used in dairy alternatives has not received enough attention, with very few companies attempting to recreate milk fats using precision fermentation. The startup has set out to change this, claiming that its “full stack” approach will create products ideal for use in fat-rich applications such as ice cream, baked goods, cheese, and more. Funding round Phyxx44 …

Fermentation

Study Finds Open-Minded Consumer Attitudes to Animal-Free Dairy

Oktober 6, 2022

Research published in the journal Frontiers in Nutrition has examined consumer attitudes to animal-free dairy. Produced using precision fermentation of microorganisms, animal-free dairy contains proteins identical to those found in conventional dairy products. While fermentation has long been used to produce various animal-free ingredients, the technique is facing growing scrutiny due to its use in alt-protein products. The new research was carried out by Professor Garrett Broad of Rowan University, along with researchers from the charity Mercy for Animals and animal-free dairy company Formo. The researchers conducted interviews with focus groups of potential consumers from the US, Germany, the UK, and Singapore. These groups were presented with both positive and negative framings of animal-free dairy and asked to evaluate them. Results showed that consumers were …

©Nestle

Company News

Nestle Partners with Perfect Day to Trial Animal-Free Dairy in US

September 20, 2022September 12, 2022

Nestle, the world’s largest publicly held food company, announces it is partnering with fermentation startup Perfect Day to explore the development of products made with animal-free dairy protein. The company will pilot its first product, an unnamed milk-like beverage, later this year at select stores, says Nestle. Created by Nestle’s R&D teams in Switzerland, the beverage contains Perfect Day’s animal-free protein and is identical to the whey protein found in cow’s milk. It also offers the same nutritional and functionality benefits of conventional dairy while being suitable for vegans and lactose-free. The product will be piloted through its newly established US-based R+D Accelerator, which aims to bring highly differentiated product concepts to market in just six months. A changing portfolio According to Nestle, dairy products …

Milk- and Dairy Alternatives

Bon Vivant and Abolis Biotechnologies Sign Strategic Partnership to Bring Animal-Free Dairy to France

Juni 8, 2022

French alt dairy startup Bon Vivant has announced a major new deal with European biotech leader Abolis. The companies have formed a strategic partnership to produce precision fermentation-based animal-free dairy products on an industrial scale. With the aim of becoming European leaders in the production of animal-free dairy products, Bon Vivant and Abolis Biotechnologies have signed the agreement to pool their expertise to mass-produce milk proteins created with precision fermentation and offer them to the dairy industry. Together, they aim to revolutionize production methods to offer animal-free dairy products on a mass scale. Lyon-based Bon Vivant has teamed up with fellow French company Abolis as it uses synthetic biology to support manufacturers in their transition to more sustainable molecules and production processes. The major milestone …

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