CANADA – Opalia, an animal-free dairy company, has successfully replaced Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS) in its process of making non-animal dairy.
Based in Montreal, Opalia formerly known as BetterMilk is the first Canadian company to produce cow milk from mammary cells.
The company, which has also achieved functional complexity, aims to collaborate with potential commercial partners for product development and start pre-pilot scale production of non-animal dairy in 2024.
Opalia is a recent portfolio for CULT Food Science, an innovative investment platform with an exclusive focus on cellular agriculture.
The startup is taking significant progress in its process of acquiring stakeholders, information technology systems, and organizational structures.
CULT noted that the ability of Opalia to eliminate the use of FBS in its production process is vital to ethical and sustainable solutions in non-animal dairy, as the disadvantages of the use are of significant concern.
These disadvantages and concerns include questions of quality and reproducibility, animal welfare, and past fraudulent marketing of FBS, the investment platform said.
Since September 2020, the cofounders of the business, Jennifer Cote, and Lucas House have strived to help reduce the consequences of dairy farming in environmental degradation, animal suffering, and the spread of pathogens.
In March of 2021, Opalia achieved the proof-of-concept by making milk through an artificial mammary duct as evidenced by both protein and lipid production.
This is through a process that involves mammary cell isolation and proliferation, genetic engineering, mammary gland reproduction, and milk synthesis.
Now, with an alternative for FBS use, Opalia said it can continue its positive impact on the cellular cultured food industry.
In recent years, the consumption of plant-based milk has led to an increase in demand for non-dairy products around the world.
According to Grand View Research, the global dairy alternatives market size valued at USD 23.2 billion in 2021 is projected to grow at a CAGR of 12.5% from 2022 to 2030.
CULT comments that with such a high projection of demand for non-animal dairy, it is critical that companies like Opalia, which are motivated by customer satisfaction, and environmental sustainability are supported.
CULT added that Opalia has proven to be a valid Investment and it will continue investment to further its ambitions.
The startup’s management was optimistic about the future of cultured dairy through the eyes of the innovative and motivated team at Opalia.
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