Finnish food tech startup Onego Bio has submitted a formal notice to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding the safety of its precision-fermented egg protein, Bioalbumen. This protein is made using a fungal strain called Trichoderma reesei and is designed to be a more sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional eggs. Onego Bio plans to target the US market first, with plans to produce 2 million liters of protein per year, equivalent to the output of 6 million hens. The company has received $15.2 million in funding and has plans to submit dossiers for novel food approval in the EU, South America, and Asia. With its production process, the company claims to use 95% less land, 97% less water, and 89% fewer greenhouse gas emissions compared to traditional egg production. The company hopes to offer a competitive price point to chicken eggs and provide a sustainable solution to the food industry.
Indian company Sterling Biotech is poised to launch construction of a cutting-edge dairy protein facility in Gujarat, leveraging fermentation technology.
Sterling Biotech, a joint venture between Perfect Day and Zydus, has started constructing the world’s first precision fermentation-based dairy protein manufacturing facility in Bharuch, Gujarat. The 27-acre facility is expected to be operational by the first quarter of 2026 and has already received substantial bookings for its capacity. The facility is designed to meet the growing global demand for sustainable food ingredients and will produce dairy proteins using precision fermentation technology, which is considered better for the environment and can meet diverse customer needs worldwide. Perfect Day CEO TM Narayan stated that this facility marks a significant milestone in transforming the global food industry. The company’s precision-fermented proteins have already gained recognition in various applications, and this new facility will enable it to scale its offerings, contributing to a more resilient and sustainable global food ecosystem.