This week, new developments from whey protein startup Remilk, Perfect Day, and emerging food tech Daisy Lab give us a closer look at some of the challenges these companies face in making animal-free dairy a reality.
Remilk suspends plans for precision fermentation in Denmark
Earlier this month, Remilk announced it had suspended plans to build “the world’s largest full-scale precision fermentation facility” in Denmark. The Israel-based startup now says that to accelerate its production goals, a contract manufacturer in Western Europe will produce the company’s whey protein using its patented process.
Last year, Remilk raised $120 million for its animal-free protein production, envisioning its first precision fermentation facility in Europe.
“The increased demand for our protein has led us to focus on instant production solutions that can be used without waiting for the construction of our own facilities,” said a Remilk spokesperson.
Remilk and Bold Cultr
Remilk, able to sell its animal-free whey protein since receiving self-affirmed GRAS status in the U.S. last year, has replaced Perfect Day as the supplier of General Mills’ brand Bold Coulter Whey Protein. The partnership marks Remilk’s first commercial collaboration.
However, Bold Coulter announced it was closing its doors just a month after debuting its animal-free cream cheese on the market after losing funding from its parent company, General Mills.
The Israeli company, which has also received Singapore’s Food Agency (SFA) regulatory green light to sell its whey protein in the country, said it has a number of undisclosed supply agreements with global CPG brands.
Anonymous applicant challenges Perfect Day’s patent
An anonymous applicant challenged Perfect Day’s US patent. California based company The leading producer of precision fermented whey protein in the United States, and from Launched in 2014, it has received several patents for its fermentation technology.
The anonymous patent challenge relates to Perfect Day’s dairy alternatives, animal-free whey manufacturing methods, and the end products they are used in, including milk, cheese, ice cream and yogurt.
Perfect Day supplies CPG brands with Mars CO2COANestlé (Cowabunga), and other emerging sustainable brands, such as Brave Robot and Bored Cow.
New Zealand-based multinational dairy company Fonterra, which has challenged Perfect Day’s intellectual property in Australia, declined to comment on whether it had filed the petition in question in the US, AFN reported. Fonterra has also invested in the animal-free dairy industry through a joint venture with DSM.
The Australian Patent Office (APO) recently ruled in Fonterra’s favor when it contested a patent owned by Perfect Day that covered similar grounds. Perfect Day has announced an appeal against the court’s ruling.
Daisy Lab raises funds for Whey Protein
Last October, Daisy Labs, a New Zealand precision fermentation startup, announced a $1.5 million seed round with plans to close before the end of 2022. This week, the food technology announced that it has successfully raised funding to scale up its production of microbial whey protein using precision fermentation technology.
The round was co-led by Latesha Randall, Founding Trustee of The Values ​​Trust, Icehouse Ventures and Outset Ventures. The funds will fund additional research on casein, another protein found in milk, said the startup’s all-female founding team.
“New Zealand has a long history of dairy innovation, and we’re excited to take this technology forward right here in Aotearoa,” said Daisy Lab Co-Founder and Operations Manager Emily MacIsaac.
“We look forward to strengthening our collaboration with the food industry and contributing to the transformation of our global food system,” he added.
Daisy got the lab Westpac is the New Zealand Government’s Innovation Fund, has received Callaghan Innovation Grants, Nous Competition Awards, and, most recently, MPI’s Sustainable Food and Fiber Futures Grant. They were previously funded by Outset Ventures, K1W1 and Sustainable Food Ventures.