Singapore startup Turtle Tree Labs will be showcasing the world’s first human breast milk created with cellular technology at the 2020 Future of Clean Milk launch in April, having closed a successful seed round and employed world class scientists to accelerate this, their first product to market.
The news is set to disrupt the $45 billion infant nutrition market, which is set to grow to $103B by 2026. Human breast milk, as opposed to formula, offers inclusive nutrition like the full spectrum of oligosaccharides, fats and carbohydrates as expressed by mothers. In a strategic move, Singapore attracted 4 of the world’s 5 largest infant formula companies to have production and R&D centers in the city state.
Turtle Tree Labs recruited top regulatory and IP attorneys in the cell-based food industry: “We are excited to have the best teams around us that also represent the likes of Memphis Meats and Impossible foods. This enables our customers to commercially license our IP for their custom use, while keeping in line with regulatory requirements,” says Fengru Lin, CEO of TurtleTree Labs.
As Singapore imports more than 99 percent of its dairy consumption needs, it has set a major initiative to ensure food security. The initiative aims to produce 30% of its nutritional needs within the island by 2030. As the team has grown to over 30 scientists and researchers, they are still growing rapidly with expansion to the US. “Our new office in San Francisco is important as we work with regulators and industry groups to accelerate market adoption,” says Max Rye, Chief strategist of TurtleTree Labs.
