Using proprietary genome editing technology, Brain Biotech and Formo are collaborating to produce bioidentical milk protein. The move has the potential to accelerate commercialization of alternative milk proteins.

Berlin-based start-up Formo will scale up its bioidentical milk protein production with genome editing technology, leveraging Brain Biotech’s expertise and Brain Engineered Cas (BEC) platform. Brain has fermentation facilities in Germany, the UK and the US.

“With the expertise of scientists in our team and with a partner in strain engineering, our products can be produced on an industrial scale and offered at competitive prices,” says Dr. Britta Winterberg, co-founder and chief scientific officer at Formo. 

The alliance aims to optimize microorganisms to expand novel protein production for commercial use through precision fermentation.

Scaling eco-friendly milk proteins
Formo’s objective is to revolutionize the US$700 billion dairy market by cutting down on gigatons of CO2 emissions. The company is harnessing the increasing consumer demand for sustainable food. The company develops identical milk proteins with specialized microorganisms.

Recently, Formo conducted a consumer survey confirming that 79% of consumers are willing to try animal-free cheese products.

“We are partnering with a company that we share our passion for biotechnology and the mission to foster sustainability: using precision fermentation, we can remove the cow from the dairy supply chain, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 91 to 97%,” says Winterberg.The mozzarella was developed using precision fermentation. (Credit: Formo)  

Brain Biotech is the parent company of the international Brain Group, distributing specialty B2B products like enzymes or bioactive natural products. As a United Nations Global Compact participant, Brain has committed to aligning strategies with human rights, labor, environmental and anti-corruption principles. “Precision fermentation is an example of how genome editing technology can be used to generate a protein that is nature-identical but can be produced more sustainably than animal protein,” said Dr. Michael Krohn, head of R&D at Brain Biotech AG.

Alternative milk protein market advancements
Israeli-based start-up Imagindairy unveiled its fast-to-market, highly functional animal-free dairy proteins. The company creates natural milk proteins that it claims are indistinguishable from the real thing via a natural process of precision fermentation.

Imagindairy also completed a US$13 million round of funding to advance its technology and production. The company will invest the funds in expanding its facilities, increasing its team and boosting R&D capacity.

Dutch plant-based ingredients manufacturer Fooditive unveiled its new vegan casein in animal-free alternative milk made from peas using fermentation. The ingredient is the first vegan casein made available for applications in the food industry. Several food developers and food companies have subscribed to test the component in their products, reports Fooditive.

Those Vegan Cowboys, a Belgium-based company founded by The Vegetarian Butcher’s former owners, are tapping into microbial fermentation methods for producing caseins in cost-competitive plant-based dairy production.