It looks like ordering an "animal-free" cappuccino coffee will be a reality in a year or two.
Startup company Eden Brew has announced a partnership with New South Wales dairy cooperative Norco and the CSIRO to develop animal-free milk.
Eden Brew has used CSIRO technology to produce a "brew" in the lab that can be used in a traditional dairy processing plant to produce something that looks and functions just like cow's milk.
But it won't come from a cow, and it will be low allergenic, lactose-free and environmentally friendly.
Guarded secret
Eden Brew is not saying much about how the process works, just that it has pioneered a way of creating casein micelles without the cow.
There are global competitors with big budgets chasing the same thing and Jim Fader, CEO of Eden Brew, wants to preserve the Australian company's "first mover" advantage.
The company has released a statement about how the technology works:
"Eden Brew has found a way to produce the same proteins found in cow’s milk using precision fermentation."
"Most of the protein in cow’s milk forms into tiny cages called micelles.
"These cages are loaded with calcium which gives milk its unique characteristics, including its white colour.
The result, according to Eden Brew, will be animal-free dairy with a frothing, creamy, milky taste, no lactose, no cholesterol and low allergenicity."
Partnership with Norco and CSIRO
The company is backed by $4 million in funding, technology and industry expertise from CSIRO offshoot Main Sequence and Australia's largest dairy cooperative Norco.
Norco will be responsible for producing the milk in their plants and distributing it.
Norco CEO Michael Hampson said while the product was still in development, he thought it would work well with coffee.
The CSIRO's involvement is being run through Main Sequence, a group it set up to link researchers with commercial partners.
Partner Phil Morle said investment in the sector was booming.
"With a record-setting USD$3.1 billion invested in alternative proteins in 2020, we see significant market potential for Eden Brew," Mr Morle said.
Why are dairy farmers backing 'animal-free' milk?
Mr Hampson said it could be a good investment for his Norco cooperative members if they could get a jump on the competition.
He said he did not think the alternative milk market would undermine the market for fresh milk.
Rabobank analyst Michael Harvey agreed.
"There's growing consumer demand, and they'll take some of the market, but there's still growth potential for conventional dairy products in emerging markets off-shore."
He said many dairy companies around the world were investing in dairy alternatives.
Shaughan Morgan from farmer lobby group Dairy Connect has been getting calls from dairy farmers concerned about Norco's move to back "animal-free" products and he said he did not think the products should be labelled as milk either.
Eden Brew is currently undergoing prototype testing at CSIRO’s Werribee facility and is expected to be in the market with its first product in the next 18 months.
