Cow-free casein pizzas: ADM and New Culture to pilot precision fermentation-based mozzarella

18 Aug 2022 --- Agri-food giant ADM and New Culture, an alternative dairy company, have partnered to develop cow-free casein and dairy replacement products. The partnership is targeting the commercialization of animal-free, melty and stretchy mozzarella in the US food service market, beginning with pizzerias in 2023.

New Culture will also have access to ADM’s full pantry of sustainable and plant-based ingredients and flavors as New Culture expands the use of animal-free casein into a wide range of animal-free dairy applications.

“ADM is a global leader in the fast-growing alternative protein segment, and we’re excited to continue to expand our capabilities, whether through investments like our Decatur production expansion, acquisitions like Sojaprotein, the launch of Scale Up Bio in Singapore, or this exciting new partnership with New Culture,” remarks Ian Pinner, ADM’s senior vice president, Strategy and Innovation. 

In the US alone, dairy is a US$70 billion market, approximately 30% of which is from cheese.“After tasting New Culture’s delicious animal-free mozzarella, we recognized that the company had the potential to play a central role in bringing great-tasting, breakthrough products to the dairy aisle, and we’re excited to bring our global precision fermentation and manufacturing expertise, and our extensive consumer product application capabilities to this effort,” he comments.

“We look forward to working with New Culture to help meet fast-growing consumer interest in alternative dairy and cheese.”

Precision fermentation on the rise
In the US alone, dairy is a US$70 billion market, approximately 30% of which is from cheese. However, due to the taste and performance gap of plant-based cheese options, there has been minimal penetration of the animal-free cheese segment with the general public, notes New Culture.

Beginning with its animal-free mozzarella, New Culture specializes in health-oriented food products made through harnessing precision fermentation, a novel process that has been steadily attracting investment this year for its ability to sustainably cultivate alternative proteins through microbes.

“This partnership between New Culture and ADM gives our team the chance to accelerate our path to commercialization and expand what’s possible for our product portfolio,” comments Matt Gibson, co-founder and CEO of New Culture.

A dynamic new playing field
In a life cycle assessment by Perfect Day, precision fermentation processes may use up to 99% less water while producing up to 97% fewer greenhouse gas emissions compared to traditional production methods. The company harnesses fungi in bioreactors to create its fermentation-based limited edition ice creams.

Last month, animal-free dairy creator Remilk obtained a self-affirmed GRAS (generally recognized as safe) status, in accordance with US Food and Drug Administration requirements, paving the way for “non-animal, real-dairy” products based on precision fermentation in the US. 

In another ingredient category, Israeli biotechnology start-up Phytolon is taking food coloring to the next level by leveraging a novel technology to produce natural pigments via the precision fermentation of yeast. Last month, it secured US$14.5 million in funding, led by DSM Venturing.

Edited by Benjamin Ferrer