Agribusiness leader ADM and animal-free dairy company New Culture are forming a strategic partnership to accelerate the commercialization of alt-dairy foods. The partnership will include joint product development and scaling of New Culture’s animal-free casein and dairy innovations, which are expected to launch in US food service in 2023.
“We recognized [New Culture] had the potential to play a central role in bringing great-tasting, break-through products to the dairy aisle”
Founded in New Zealand, New Culture creates animal-free dairy products using precision fermentation techniques that produce casein, one of the primary proteins found in cow’s milk. By making casein without cows, New Culture offers cheese and other foods that are indistinguishable in taste and texture from traditional dairy.
The new partnership will utilize ADM’s broad product development resources to accelerate New Culture’s applications. The startup will also have access to ADM’s full pantry of sustainable, plant-based ingredients and flavors to enhance and diversify its product range.
Scaling up mozzarella
ADM’s global manufacturing assets will also help in commercializing New Culture’s animal-free mozzarella for the US food service market, beginning with pizzerias in 2023. As New Culture grows its commercial footprint, ADM will make its fermentation and dairy manufacturing operations available to meet the demand.
“After tasting New Culture’s delicious animal-free mozzarella, we recognized that the company had the potential to play a central role in bringing great-tasting, break-through products to the dairy aisle, and we’re excited to bring our global precision fermentation and manufacturing expertise, and our extensive consumer product application capabilities to this effort,” said Ian Pinner, ADM’s senior vice president, Strategy and Innovation.
Expanding possibilites
In 2021, New Culture raised $25M in an oversubscribed Series A funding round.
“This partnership between New Culture and ADM gives our team the chance to accelerate our path to commercialization and expand what’s possible for our product portfolio,” said Matt Gibson, co-founder and CEO of New Culture. “Leading the transition to an animal-free dairy future requires partners every step of the way and we’re thrilled to have a committed partner in ADM, a global leader with deep expertise, reach, and capabilities.”
