16 Nov 2022 — Bel Group, which is behind main cheese manufacturers like Babybel, The Laughing Cow and Boursin, is leveraging precision fermentation expertise from Standing Ovation to include dairy-free casein protein in Bel’s various cheese choices.
The deal intently follows Bel buying an fairness stake in Standing Ovation in September.
Bel Group proceed its push into plant-based options to dairy by releasing a brand new type of precision fermented, dairy-free protein, which they hope will lastly remedy the issue of sustainable cheese options.
Paris-based Standing Innovation has created a course of that claims to imitate the style and texture of dairy-based cheeses.
This continues to be a serious problem for plant-based options within the dairy sector.
Chatting with FoodIngredientsFirst, co-founder of Standing Ovation, Frédéric Paques explains how the rising urge for food for plant-based options is pushing the needle in technological developments that create novel options with improved style.
“Casein is the holy grail for the manufacturing of other choices that match typical merchandise by way of dietary worth, style and texture,” he says.
“Shoppers are longing for non-animal cheeses that actually style like cheese. “In addition they anticipate the product to be good for his or her well being, which implies protein-rich, and for many individuals, lactose-free. Casein made by fermentation shouldn’t be the target per se; it’s the method to meet these calls for.”
Bel hopes to face out by investing particularly in scaleable options that supply shoppers a reassuringly low environmental influence. The problem of style
Replicating the flavour and texture of dairy-based cheese has lengthy proved tough. Nonetheless, Bel Group and Standing Ovation declare this course of has largely solved the issue whereas additionally answering the rising client demand for elevated dietary worth.
The partnership is predicated on a newly developed type of high-yield, precision fermentation, continues Paques.
“Standing Ovation makes use of precision fermentation to breed proteins similar to these present in cow’s milk: caseins. In sensible phrases, this implies utilizing microorganisms, as a substitute of animals, to supply these proteins. Nonetheless, caseins are notoriously tough to supply, and we needed to develop a particular, proprietary, high-yield course of.”
Feeding the longer term
The timing of this partnership comes as COP27 enters its previous couple of days in Egypt the place future meals and the modifications wanted in manufacturing techniques has been within the highlight.
The diversification of high quality protein assets is important to feed a rising inhabitants, projected to succeed in ten billion by 2050. Simply yesterday, the world inhabitants was stated to have formally handed eight billion.
Bel Group has heard the patron demand for dairy-free options and a need for wholesome snacking and has put all its chips on precision fermentation as an answer.
Earlier this 12 months, Bel Venutres acquired Superbrewed Meals, a start-up that makes a speciality of postbiotic cultured proteins.
“Our proprietary casein manufacturing course of has proved to scale simply,” provides Paques. “At present, casein manufacturing is at kg scale. We plan to supply at ton scale in 2023 and to be business in 2024.”
Various proteins rise
Bel shouldn’t be the one group attempting to stake its declare on the choice proteins market. A report earlier this 12 months revealed a record-breaking US$1.7 billion funding in various proteins within the first half of 2022.
Inside this push, Bel hopes to face out by investing particularly in scaleable options that supply shoppers a reassuringly low environmental influence. 
Bel hopes to face out by investing particularly in scaleable options that supply shoppers a reassuringly low environmental influence.
“We go additional by proposing a producing course of that’s extra respectful of the atmosphere and based mostly on plant uncooked supplies produced by native agriculture,” Anne Pitowski, analysis & functions director, Group Bel, tells FoodIngredientsFirst.
“Bel & Standing Ovation’s collaboration is certainly key to answering the patron expectations by way of pleasure and to sort out the sustainability problem addressed to the meals trade.”
Innova Market Insights highlights how plant-based consuming is increasing its buyer base – it’s not about reducing meat and dairy totally. Plant-based innovation is diversifying past conventional classes, whereas there are a lot of methods to strategy vitamin in plant-based substitutes.
The market researcher notes a 14% enhance within the launch of dairy options from 2017 to 2021, additionally noting a gradual however clear uptick within the demand for non-dairy cheese.
“Precision fermentation presents a number of alternatives, akin to enhancing the dietary facet of plant based mostly cheese, decreasing the environmental footprint of dairy parts and bringing dairy proteins to areas which haven’t any direct entry to exploit. We’re initially of the exploration- no doubts that new merchandise and innovation will come up from precision fermentation produced caseins,”concludes Pitowski.
By James Davies
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