Animal-free dairy

Brie cheese i a wooden board by Standing Ovation

© Standing Ovation
Investments & Finance

Standing Ovation Raises €3.75M for Fermented Casein, Eyes 2025 USA Launch with New CEO

French biotech Standing Ovation, which specializes in precision-fermented casein for animal-free dairy, announces it has raised €3.75 million in Series A+ funding. The funds will accelerate the company’s growth and the distribution and sales of its flagship protein ingredient — Advanced Casein — in the USA in 2025. This new capital adds to the €12 million secured in the original round, led by Astanor Ventures in 2022. Peakbridge, Seventure, Good Startup, Big Idea Ventures, and the industrial group Bel also participated. The Paris-based startup has also received €3 million in funding from the French government and Bpifrance to accelerate the production of its fermented caseins, bringing the total raised by the company to €23 million in just four years. Laetitia de Panafieu, the Astanor representative on …

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Angel Yeast

© Angel Yeast
Ingredients

Angel Yeast Unveils Yeast Protein Solution to Enhance Plant Milk Nutrition and Flavor Experience

Angel Yeast has introduced a groundbreaking yeast protein solution aimed at enhancing the nutritional value, flavor, and texture of plant-based milk products in the rapidly growing alternative dairy market. The yeast protein AngeoPro, is derived from brewer’s yeast through enzymatic hydrolysis and extraction, resulting in a microbial protein with over 80% protein content. This innovation addresses key challenges in the plant-based milk sector, including nutritional deficiencies and sensory issues that have long plagued the industry. “For years, consumers have been seeking plant-based milk alternatives that match the nutritional profile and sensory experience of dairy milk,” said R&D engineer of Angel Yeast. “We are thrilled to offer AngeoPro, which not only enhances the nutritional value of plant-based milk but also significantly improves its taste and texture, …

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Food tech accelerator Eatable Adventures has released a new report on the Future of Dairy

© Image courtesy of Eatable Adventures
Studies & Numbers

New Report “The Future of Dairy” Advocates for Disruptive Technologies & Partnerships to Address Industry Challenges

A new report on the future of dairy released by the food tech accelerator Eatable Adventures calls for industry leaders to adopt forward-thinking practices and integrate plant-based, fermented, and cell-based dairy innovations for better sustainability and efficiency. The report highlights three main areas to transform the industry: moving toward more sustainable practices, developing and adopting hybrid products (combining traditional and alternative ingredients), and forming strategic innovation partnerships to drive these changes successfully. Scaling emerging technologies However, the study, which compiles insights from medium to large dairy companies across Europe, Latin America, and Asia, has found that the industry is divided on adopting new technologies. Industry leaders pointed out that competition presents a primary challenge to adopting these technologies within the traditional dairy sector and from …

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a splashing bottle of milk

Anusorn- stock.adobe.com
Investments & Finance

Earth First Food Ventures Opens $10M Funding Round for Precision Fermented Dairy via Tokenization

Venture capital platform Earth First Food Ventures (EFFV) has launched a $10 million Series A funding round via tokenization. The investment will expand EFFV’s portfolio in the alt-dairy sector, launch a $50 million fund dedicated to precision fermentation, and support team growth. The EFFV tokens can be purchased on Securitize, the leading platform for tokenizing real-world assets on a blockchain, to make investment opportunities in disruptive food technologies and alternative proteins more accessible and streamlined. Brian Ruszczyk, co-founder and CEO of the firm, shares: “We are excited to announce the launch of our Series A round on the Securitize platform. This step helps us become a leader in the scaling of ‘Dairy without the Cow’ in collaboration with global strategic partners. “The traditional dairy industry …

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The latest report by Bright Green Partners consultancy, examines the opportunities the European dairy industry has to address a projected rise in production costs by investing in sustainable alternatives to traditional dairy products.

© Bright Green Partners
Studies & Numbers

Plant-Based and Precision-Fermented Milk Set for Dominance in Europe by 2040, Report Predicts

Plant-based milk could be 10% cheaper than cow’s milk and become a staple product and ingredient by the end of 2030 if products meet taste and nutrition requirements, such as higher protein and micronutrients. Meanwhile, alternative milk made with precision-fermented (animal-free) whey and casein proteins will become increasingly competitive as technical innovations improve and production processes scale up. These are among various estimates from the latest report by alternative protein consultancy Bright Green Partners. This report examines the opportunities the European dairy industry has to address a projected rise in production costs by investing in sustainable alternatives to traditional dairy products. Floor Buitelaar, managing partner of Bright Green Partners, shared, “This report is a must-read for industry leaders who want to understand the future dairy …

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Formo animal-free cream cheese

© Formo
Fermentation

METRO Germany Becomes “First” Wholesaler to Sell Formo Animal-Free Cream Cheese

METRO Germany is now offering Frischain, an animal-free cream cheese produced by the German startup Formo. The wholesaler claims to be the first in the world to stock the product. Frischain is made using microfermentation, which produces functional proteins that can be processed using traditional dairy cheese production methods. These proteins are derived from koji, a fungus traditionally used in soy sauce, miso, and sake to break down complex molecules and enhance flavours. The resulting cheese alternative is said to be almost indistinguishable from dairy cream cheese. METRO is offering the product on its refrigerated shelves in a 1.5 kilogram catering container. The wholesaler operates 102 stores and 11 delivery depots across Germany, boasting around three million customers. “With Frischhain, we are pleased to be …

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Perfect Day's animal-free whey protein in whipped cream.

© Perfect Day
Fermentation

Pharmaceutical Giant Zydus & Perfect Day Partner to Make India an Animal-Free Protein Hub

Pharmaceutical giant Zydus Lifesciences has announced an agreement to acquire a 50% stake in Sterling Biotech, a manufacturing company based in Mumbai, purchased by the Californian biotech Perfect Day from bankruptcy for $78 million in 2022. Both Zydus and Perfect Day will have equal representation on Sterling Biotech’s Board post-transaction. It is worth highlighting that India is the world’s largest milk producer, contributing 25% of global milk production. According to Zydus Lifesciences, the joint venture aims to make India a “bright spot” in the global supply chain of sustainable proteins to reduce the environmental impact of food production and meet the growing demand for ethically sourced nutrition. The 50:50 joint venture will combine Zydus’ manufacturing strength with Perfect Day’s advanced technology in precision fermentation to establish a …

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Header for an upcoming Webtalk : Session 3 of the ‘update’ Webinar Series: Dairy Alternatives – The Intersection of Success and Sorrow
Cheese Alternatives

Session 3 of the ‘update’ Webinar Series: Dairy Alternatives – The Intersection of Success and Sorrow

The new international business webtalk series ‘update’ discusses the most pressing issues of the ongoing protein transition. Based on the latest news, data, and facts, the future of the industry will be put forward and discussed with key market players in this series of talks. Session 3: Cheeese!? Dairy Alternatives – The Intersection of Success and Sorrow August 22nd, 10:30 AM CT (CHICAGO) | 5:30 PM CEST (BERLIN) | 4:30 PM BST (LONDON) >> Register now! Join us for an insightful webtalk exploring the successes and setbacks of dairy alternatives. As oat, almond and soy milk have established themselves as distinct categories, producers remain inventive in establishing new plant-based dairy products on the market. Concentrates, powders, 2D printed plant milks and precision fermented dairy products are examples. We …

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Singaporean precision fermentation company TurtleTree announces a new commercial partnership for its flagship whey protein lactoferrin, LF+, with Strive, a F&B company specializin in bringing novel protein products to market.

Image courtesy of TurtleTree
Cultivated, Cell-Cultured & Biotechnology

TurtleTree & Strive to Launch Health-Focused Beverages Powered by Animal-Free Lactoferrin

Singaporean precision fermentation company TurtleTree announces a new commercial partnership with Strive Nutrition, an F&B company bringing novel proteins to market, for LF+, claimed to be the world’s first GRAS and vegan-certified animal-free lactoferrin. The companies will introduce two health-focused products in the USA by 2025: an immunity support beverage for adults and a ready-to-mix protein powder targeted for sports nutrition. According to the announcement, the collaboration aims to capitalize on the growing functional beverage market, where 83% of US consumers currently drink functional beverages as part of their self-care routine. The news follows TurtleTree’s first-ever commercial partnership to launch a functional espresso featuring LF+ with Cadence Performance Coffee. Fengru Lin, TurtleTree’s CEO, expressed her excitement about the partnership: “We are looking forward to supporting Strive …

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Future Cow's co-founder Leonardo Vieira.

© Future Cow
Fermentation

Brazil’s First Precision Fermentation Startup Future Cow Prepares to Scale Up Production of Animal-Free Milk

Future Cow, a Brazilian food tech startup founded in 2023 by entrepreneur Leonardo Vieira and food scientist Rosana Goldbeck, aims to revolutionize dairy production with precision fermentation, creating real milk without cows. Considered Brazil’s first cellular agriculture startup using precision fermentation, Future Cow gained momentum through São Paulo’s Antler residency program, securing a $150,000 initial investment. Soon after, in a funding round led by Antler and Big Idea Ventures as part of the first cohort of the New Protein Fund II, it secured R$2 million (around $410,000) to accelerate its fermentation technology. Recently, the startup was selected for the FoodTech World Cup semi-finals, hosted by FoodHack and Givaudan. It has also been selected to participate in CNPEM’s Deeptech Acceleration Program (PACE), a local initiative that aims to boost …

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Crepes filled with animal-free cream

© Imagindairy
Fermentation

Imagindairy and Ginkgo Bioworks Receive Grant to Accelerate the Launch of Cow-Free Dairy Proteins

Israeli animal-free dairy protein developer Imagindairy and Ginkgo Bioworks (NYSE: DNA), a Boston-based biotech specializing in cell programming, announce a partnership to accelerate the introduction of a new wave of cow-free dairy. A joint grant from the Board of Governors of the Israel-US Binational Industrial Research and Development (BIRD) Foundation has partly funded the companies’s multiyear program to commercialize non-whey proteins. The collaboration will leverage Ginkgo Bioworks’ Protein Expression Services and Imagindairy’s process development and scale-up expertise to develop and manufacture animal-free whey cost-effectively to reach prices similar to dairy proteins.  Ginkgo is also working with the Chicago-based alt-seafood producer Aqua Cultured Foods to improve the economics and functions of its microbial strains for large-scale operations. Jennifer Wipf, CEO at Ginkgo Bioworks, shares, “Being awarded this …

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Strive FREEMILK Whole, an alternative milk crafted with Perfect Day's whey protein, has launched in partnership with Florida coffee roasters Oceana Coffee at the 2024 Miami Open.

Image courtesy of Strive FREEMILK

Cultivated, Cell-Cultured & Biotechnology

Strive Milk is Served at the Miami Open, Becoming First Animal-Free Milk at Major Sporting Event

Strive FREEMILK Whole, an alternative milk crafted with Perfect Day‘s sustainable whey protein, is being served in partnership with Florida coffee roasters Oceana Coffee at the 2024 Miami Open. This launch represents the first animal-free milk made with precision fermentation protein served at a major sporting event, marking a huge milestone for the alt dairy category, gaining mainstream visibility and recognition beyond just being available online or in stores. Strive Nutrition Corp., the company behind Strive FREEMILK, states that its “milk-like” product will revolutionize the coffee experience at the Miami Open thanks to its rich flavor, high protein content, sustainability, and ethical standards. MichaelAnn Cohlmia, Creative Director at Strive Nutrition, shared, “We are thrilled to introduce Strive FREEMILK to the tennis fans and coffee enthusiasts …

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Bored Cow launches animal-free yogurt, announced B-Corp status

© Bored Cow
Cultivated, Cell-Cultured & Biotechnology

Bored Cow Launches “First of its Kind” Animal-Free Yogurt Made with Fermented Proteins

In response to its most consumer-requested product; Tomorrow Farms‘ animal-free dairy brand, Bored Cow, announces that it has developed the “first of its kind” range of drinkable yogurt made with milk protein from fermentation, coconut cream, and cane sugar.  Bored Cow’s new yogurt alternative comes in 7 oz bottles in three flavors: strawberry, vanilla, and passion fruit mango. Each bottle provides 8 g of complete protein per bottle, calcium, vitamin D, vitamin B12, and live probiotic cultures. Furthermore, they are free from milk’s lactose, cholesterol, hormones, and antibiotics. The new animal-free yogurt range will launch in New York City this month, with a suggested competitive retail price of $2.99 to $3.99.  The brand states, “Bored Cow offers everything consumers love about conventional dairy and nothing they …

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Unilever's brand Breyers has launched a new dairy-free ice cream made with animal-free dairy proteins from Perfect Day.

© Perfect Day
Products & Launches

Unilever’s Breyers Launches Lactose-Free Ice Cream made with Animal-Free Whey Protein

Unilever brand Breyers, an ice cream company in business since 1886, has launched a new lactose and cholesterol-free product made with animal-free whey protein. Unilever, one of the world’s biggest CPG companies, partnered with Perfect Day, a pioneer producer of whey protein from precision fermentation, to introduce a more sustainable product than dairy ice cream but with the same taste and texture. Perfect Day claims its protein is identical to cow’s whey offering a lower environmental impact — its process reduces greenhouse gas emissions by up to 97% and reduces blue water consumption by up to 99% compared to traditional production methods. An exciting innovation The new Breyers Lactose-Free Chocolate is described as providing the creamy taste people expect from the brand, and will be available …

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Remilk has become the first company to receive the green light in Canada for a precision fermentation-derived protein.

Image courtesy of Remilk
Fermentation

Remilk Receives No Objections Letter for Sale of Animal-Free Milk Protein, Heralding “New-Dairy Revolution” in Canada

Israeli biotech company Remilk announces that it has obtained Health Canada’s “Letter of No Objection,” allowing the use and commercialization of its animal-free milk protein called BLG within Canada. With this achievement, Remilk has become the first company to receive the green light in the country for a precision fermentation-derived protein.  According to the announcement, Health Canada conducted a thorough evaluation and deemed Remilk’s animal-free protein safe for consumption. As a result, Canada has opened the door for new dairy products, including milk, ice cream, yogurt, and cream cheese, made with novel proteins instead of traditional milk proteins. “This is an important day for us at Remilk, and a historic one for Canada as it opens its doors to the new-dairy revolution. We developed a strategic roadmap for …

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21st.BIO's team

© 21st.BIO
Manufacturing & Technology

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

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 …

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Pureture X Namyang products

© Pureture
Fermentation

Pureture Partners with South Korea’s Namyang Dairy to Launch Dairy-Free Range Made with Plant-Based Casein

Pureture,  a US biotech specializing in producing animal-free ingredients with functional properties, announces a partnership with Namyang Dairy Products, one of South Korea‘s largest dairy manufacturers. Namyang, a global company with a presence in 21 countries, produces milk, yogurt, cheese, cream, and butter. The dairy giant will use Pureture’s plant-based casein to develop and introduce a new plant-based dairy range to offer consumers sustainable options. Pureture claims that it has developed the world’s first non-GMO plant-based casein. The protein is yeast-derived, and according to Purture, it enables manufacturers to develop clean-label, dairy-free products without additives, emulsifiers, or binders. Furthermore, Pureture says it will reach a manufacturing capacity of 2,400 tons to meet the growing demand while offering a competitive price approximately 30 to 40 percent lower …

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Imagindairy

© Imagindairy
Company News

Imagindairy Advances Precision Fermentation Production for Animal-Free Dairy Ingredients

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 …

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perfect-day-animal-free-dairy-founders

© Perfect Day Foods
Investments & Finance

Perfect Day Secures $90M to Scale Whey Proteins, Co-Founders Step Down for New Leadership

Perfect Day, a US precision fermentation company producing whey proteins, announces that it has raised a pre-series E financing round of up to $90 million led by internal investors. After securing the funding round, co-founder and CEO Ryan Pandya and co-founder Perumal Gandhi have stepped down from a decade of operational management roles. “They now hand the reigns to a team poised to continue their work into a period of scaling production volumes and creating a profitable and future-focused business,” reads the announcement. The Berkeley-based biotech also announced the company’s current president, TM Narayan, as the interim CEO to helm the business on its path to profitability. According to the biotech, Narayan will bring an “elevated” leadership to the company by offering his strong track record …

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Vivici fermentation unit

© Vivici
Fermentation

Vivici Partners with Ginkgo Bioworks to Expand Portfolio of Sustainable Dairy Proteins

Vivici, a Dutch B2B ingredients startup utilizing precision fermentation, and Ginkgo Bioworks, a cell programming and biosecurity platform, have announced a strategic partnership to advance the production of sustainable animal-free dairy proteins. Focusing on meeting the increasing global demand for sustainable and appealing proteins, Vivici utilizes precision fermentation techniques to create animal-free dairy proteins with microorganisms. Ginkgo Bioworks is set to enhance the partnership with its protein production services and generative AI platform. The company’s strategic role involves creating a comprehensive library, where it will screen and cultivate top-performing strains and then deliver them to Vivici for final evaluation. Stephan van Sint Fiet, CEO at Vivici, commented, “We are thrilled to collaborate with Ginkgo. Ginkgo’s scale and AI-driven approach to designing strains for protein expression …

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