Startup in Molecular Farming, Finally Foods, Secures $1.2m Funding, Strikes Agreement with CBC Group
In an effort to meet future demand and address concerns about industrialized animal agriculture, dairy and CPG companies are exploring cow-less dairy products. One such startup, Finally Foods, is using molecular farming to produce casein proteins from potatoes.
According to Gabbay, the founder of Finally Foods, molecular farming offers several advantages over traditional methods. For instance, the downstream processing and purification process for extracting and purifying casein proteins from potatoes is simpler compared to soybeans. Moreover, unlike firms using microbial expression systems, molecular farming companies can potentially produce more than one casein protein in the same plant.
The field trial conducted by Finally Foods has demonstrated the feasibility of scaling this process from the lab to an industrial level. The casein proteins produced by Finally Foods form a micellular structure inside the potato, similar to their structure in cow's milk.
Gabбay believes that in the future, there will be dairy from cows, fermenters, and plants. Recently, Finally Foods struck a commercial agreement with the Israeli beverage and dairy producer CBC Group to bring its cow-less dairy products to market.
To optimize agronomic conditions and cultivate all the casein formulations they have developed, Finally Foods is currently conducting trials. In these trials, they will test the functionality of pairs of casein subunits produced in potatoes. They are also developing varieties specifically with downstream processing in mind.
Despite the potential advantages, there are challenges to overcome. The regulatory pathway for molecular farming is potentially more burdensome, with approvals needed both to grow the GM plants and to market the ingredients they produce. US regulators have warned startups in the field that expressing animal proteins such as egg and dairy proteins in genetically engineered crops will require strict allergen management.
Despite these challenges, Finally Foods is confident in the future of cow-less dairy products. Gabbay stated that Finally Foods produces clean, pure casein proteins without DNA from the genetically engineered host, making the final product non-GMO. The investment of $1.2 million will enable Finally Foods to complete its first field trial and begin scaling operations toward commercial production.
The interest in cow-less dairy products has been growing, with companies such as Impossible Foods, Motif FoodWorks, and Perfect Day also turning to molecular farming for the production of animal proteins. The Avian flu outbreak in California, which affected both cows and chickens, has further contributed to the interest in these alternative dairy solutions.
Finally Foods' potatoes grow just like any other potato in open fields, according to the first field trial. As the startup continues to refine its processes and scale up production, it could soon become a major player in the dairy industry.
Read also:
- EPA Administrator Zeldin travels to Iowa, reveals fresh EPA DEF guidelines, attends State Fair, commemorates One Big Beautiful Bill
- "Divine Protections Failed: Father Battling for Life After Flesh-Eating Bacteria Infection"
- Innovative Company ILiAD Technologies Introduces ILiAD+: Boosting Direct Lithium Extraction Technology's Efficiency Substantially
- Nuclear Ambitions at a U.S. Airport Spark Controversy, With Opposition Swelling
