Finally Foods Partners with CBC Group for Innovative Potato Casein Deal

Key Takeaways

  • Finally Foods has secured a $1.2 million investment from CBC Group, marking a significant milestone in its operations.
  • The startup aims to scale up commercial production of dairy proteins using potatoes, following a successful field trial.
  • Finally Foods emphasizes that molecular farming offers more favorable economics compared to precision fermentation for protein production.

Investment and Partnership

Finally Foods, a startup focused on producing dairy proteins through molecular farming in potatoes, has made headlines with a commercial agreement with CBC Group, an Israeli beverage and dairy producer. This partnership comes alongside a $1.2 million investment, crucial for scaling its operations following the success of its first field trial.

Ofer Haviv from computational biology company Evogene, which collaborated with Finally Foods, noted that the startup has achieved impressive progress quickly. This agreement signifies a step toward validating molecular farming as a viable alternative to traditional animal-based protein production.

Field Trials and Production Plans

CEO Dafna Gabbay remarked that details of the commercial agreement cannot be disclosed yet, but confirmed CBC Group as their first major customer. The initial field trial proved that their potatoes could grow like traditional crops, providing sufficient quantities for large-scale extraction.

In future operations, the company intends to evaluate global territories for potato cultivation while already commencing regulatory processes in multiple regions. Gabbay explained that their extraction process is cost-efficient and aligns with industrial methods, although more capital will be needed to support commercial-scale extraction.

By-Product Commercialization

Regarding the potatoes remaining post-extraction, Gabbay confirmed that Finally Foods aims to commercialize these by-products, separating the starch fraction and determining potential applications based on regulatory guidelines.

Molecular Farming vs. Precision Fermentation

Compared to firms utilizing precision fermentation to produce casein proteins via engineered microbes, Finally Foods argues that cultivating proteins in genetically modified plants is economically superior in terms of capitalization and operational costs. Developing a new plant variety for molecular farming simplifies scalability, requiring just more fields rather than larger fermenters.

However, the regulatory pathway remains complex, necessitating approvals for both growing GM plants and marketing their outputs. Startups in this field must adhere to strict allergen management protocols, particularly in the U.S.

Advantages of Potatoes in Protein Production

Potatoes offer distinct advantages over soybeans in downstream processing for casein protein extraction, making it easier to purify the final product. The company is developing specific potato varieties to enhance this process, ensuring a clean, pure casein product devoid of GMO traces.

Gabbay highlighted that the casein proteins in their process could form micelle structures within the potato, which is advantageous for functionality. Upcoming trials will optimize conditions to cultivate various casein formulations concurrently, aiming to produce all four subunits in the same potato variety.

Understanding Molecular Farming

Molecular farming involves genetically engineering plants to produce valuable substances, such as dairy proteins, that they wouldn’t normally manufacture. This approach positions plants as bioreactors, offering a sustainable alternative to conventional animal agriculture. Given current trends, Gabbay emphasized that major dairy and consumer goods companies are exploring cow-less products, motivated by sustainability and demand factors.

In summary, the advancements at Finally Foods reflect a promising shift in protein production technologies, leveraging both scientific innovation and strategic partnerships to meet evolving market demands.

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