Animal-free dairy
-
Next-gen milk offers sustainable nutrition.
Opalia leverages the milk-producing cells from cows to create milk
The Opportunity
Milk and milk ingredients are consumed around the world, and can be important components of many nutritious diets. But cows produce a lot of methane, and are not highly efficient in converting food into milk. With the pressures on the planet, finding ways to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions while meeting the nutrition demands of consumers presents a huge opportunity for innovative approaches to milk production.
The Challenge
Opalia has developed a way to use the cells from cows to create milk that has all the nutritional and functional properties of traditional milk. This opens up the potential to free up land, water and other resources used to sustain dairy cattle, while still enjoying the benefits of milk. To realize their potential, Opalia needed to increase their ability to create larger samples so industrial customers could test functionality and taste, and de-risk their regulatory pathway.
Receiving this support from NPC is not only essential to our ability to conduct the work, but also provides real validation to investors and industry partners that we have a serious, viable approach with our technology.
NPC’s Solution
NPC provided Opalia with $250,000 through the Proof of Concept Program to help them increase their production levels and optimize their technology. At time of publication the project is still ongoing but early findings are showing promise for optimizing production and reducing costs. The project is on track to meet its milestones and fulfill its exciting potential.
NPC is committed to the creation of natural products that are better for people, animals and the planet. We propel early-stage Canadian innovators with the advice, connections and capital they need to develop and de-risk their solutions quickly and efficiently.
Opalia
Description:
Sector(s):
Food, Nutrition, FoodtechFunding Type:
Proof of ConceptProvince:
QuebecFunding Amount:
$250,000
Year of Funding:
2023Name:
Jennifer Coté