DairyX Foods Ltd. announces a major advancement in creating authentic milk proteins without cows, using precision fermentation. The food-tech start-up has developed a method to produce casein proteins that can self-assemble into micelles. DairyX has also refined a complementary technology to enhance the gelation of its casein micelles, considered the holy grail of the industry. DairyX’s gelating micelles enable manufacturers to produce firm, stretchy and creamy products using their traditional dairy-making processes.
DairyX’s precision fermentation technology uses microorganisms (specifically yeast) to produce smart casein proteins. “Not all caseins produced using precision fermentation are alike,” explains Maya Bar-Zeev, PhD, Head of Product Development and Downstream Processing. “We trained yeast to produce the next generation of casein. DairyX’s patent-pending casein is an advanced form created to precisely and effectively organize into micelles.”
“The industry knows quite well that caseins are extremely hard to produce using precision fermentation, so our initial goal was to solve this problem. Once we successfully crafted caseins, the next major challenge was to upgrade caseins so they could self-assemble into gelating micelles to produce the dairy properties manufacturers are seeking,” explains DairyX CEO and founder Arik Ryvkin, PhD.
Currently, manufacturers of animal-free dairy products use additives, like stabilizers, emulsifiers and thickeners, which don’t perform as well as cow’s milk and can add unpleasant aftertastes. These fail to satisfy consumer cravings for a real dairy experience.
“DairyX caseins have amino acid sequences identical to those of their animal counterparts, making them, in fact, non-genetically modified,” explains Galit Kuznets, Head of Strain Development and Fermentation. “Our casein also eliminates the need for hormones and antibiotics applied in dairy farms.
Founded in 2022, DairyX is on a mission to replace cows as sole dairy protein sources through the use of precision fermentation. The company develops animal-free dairy proteins for food companies to produce tasty, nutritious products that are easy to manufacture. Topping the DairyX agenda is a commitment to climate resilience and reduced greenhouse gas emissions and resource use. DairyX solutions are created by a talented multidisciplinary group of scientists, fermentation experts, product developers, and advisors who are pioneers in their fields. DairyX investors include: Peregrine Ventures, Jesselson, Phibro Animal Health Corporation, the Israel Innovation Authority and Incentive – Peregrine’s Incubator. The company has signed a letter of intent with CSM Ingredients and several other dairy partners.
