Israeli startup grows world’s first real dairy protein in potatoes—no cows needed

ynet ^ | |02.06.25 | | srael Wullman

[BenLurkin]

Once harvested, the potatoes will be processed to extract casein protein powder, a key component in dairy production. Casein, which makes up 80% of milk proteins, is essential for cheese-making and provides melting, stretching and foaming properties in dairy products.

Founded just a year ago, Finally Foods specializes in molecular agriculture, using potatoes as natural bio-reactors to produce casein protein. Bio-reactors serve as a medium for biochemical reactions, offering a sustainable alternative to traditional livestock-based dairy production, which contributes to high greenhouse gas emissions and requires extensive land and water resources. The company sees plant-based dairy proteins as a solution to global climate and food security challenges.

The innovative technology was developed with AI-driven genetic engineering from Israeli biotech firm Evogene. By analyzing vast genetic databases, researchers identified animal-derived DNA sequences that could be incorporated into plants, enabling potatoes to function as biological factories for protein production. The AI continuously optimizes both the growth process and protein yield.

Potatoes were chosen as the host crop due to their high yield, ease of protein extraction and global availability. Unlike fermentation-based dairy alternatives, which rely on yeasts, bacteria and fungi but struggle to replicate real casein, this method offers a cost-effective and scalable approach to producing identical dairy proteins.

[Uncle Miltie]

What KIND of an eye? ;-)

[DesertRhino]

Yeah, like I’m ever going to eat cheese, made by Israelis, from a potato.

[SunkenCiv]

Heh...

I wonder who Maid that one...

[SunkenCiv]

They tend to skin ya, so, be on yer toes.

[Silentgypsy]

So when I want something to go with my cake, I have to go milk a potato. Great.

[Parmy]

So! They ruin a perfectly good potato. How is that better than the real thing?

[GenXPolymath]

Two words

Space food

Even with nuclear rockets you are not taking cows to space the mass balance to orbit and out of the gravity well makes it impossible. This says nothing of life ssupport and feed requirements in space on another planet.

Also 6 billion humans have yearly or continual protein deficient diets. The math is clear there is not enough land,water, feed and nutrients for those 6 billion to eat cows or animal proteins at western consumption levels.This is just cold hard mathematics it doesn’t care how you feel, what you believe, or your political sstanding. This planet is over populated period.full.stop. We would need four earth sized planets to have 8 billion humans all living at middle class levels consumption. So the answer is and always was going to be biotech.

[Red Badger]

So when you make mashed potatoes, do you just add milk or more potatoes?.........

[SunkenCiv]

My motto is, more cheese! :^)

[Red Badger]

More cow Gel!......................

[dfwgator]