CULT Food Science Corp said it has completed an early-stage investment in De Novo Dairy, further broadening its exposure to a diversified and cell-based product and intellectual property (IP) pipeline.
Based in Cape Town, South Africa, De Novo is the first precision fermentation company in Africa that is focused on alternative proteins products such as ice cream, yogurt and cheese.
“CULT is excited to add De Novo to its growing portfolio of innovators that are working to change the global food industry for the better. We are keenly interested in De Novo’s work and how it might revolutionize the dairy business and alter consumer demand for traditional dairy products,” CULT Food president Lejjy Gafour said in a statement.
“Finding ways to convert longstanding industries that are harmful to animals and the environment into a sustainable alternative is the wave of the future and we at CULT are doing what we can to sponsor this shift through our investments,” he added.
READ: CULT Food Science says its president, Lejjy Gafour scheduled to speak at the Future of Food at SXSW 2022
De Novo produces recombinant milk proteins through fermentation, identical to those found in cow’s milk, that can be seamlessly integrated into animal-free dairy products at a commercial scale.
With meat and dairy production accounting for 57% of all food-related emissions, De Novo aims to advance a sustainable and creative solution to the global greenhouse gas problem.
The commercialization of De Novo’s product pipeline is expected to enable consumers to enjoy the real taste, texture and nutritional value of animal-derived dairy, but without the factory farming, lactose, hormones or antibiotics, CULT Food said.
CULT joins other notable cellular agriculture (CellAg) capital allocators like Sustainable Food Ventures in helping accelerate De Novo’s commercialization and IP pursuits.
“It really is inspiring to see all the international support De Novo Dairy has been receiving for our mission to improve human nutrition whilst removing animals from the food chain,” said De Novo CEO Jean Louwrens. “Having CULT Food Science on our side has definitely taken it to the next level, and we look forward to what we will be achieving together in the coming years.”
CULT Food also revealed that it has learned that “deliberately false and inaccurate information” about CULT is being disseminated online by or at the direction of parties attempting to discredit the company.
CULT and its legal advisers are currently investigating the matter and intend to take any steps necessary or appropriate to address the situation, the company said.
Contact the author at jon.hopkins@proactiveinvestors.com