Milk is a part of our daily life. From aging it for decades to producing cheese to using it to balance the caffeine in our beverages, milk is an essential drink and ingredient today. However, it is easy to ignore the negative environmental impacts caused by this milk production. There are 9.4 million dairy cows in the U.S. alone. Raising these cows in agricultural spaces increases methane and carbon emissions. Additionally, water pollution and animal welfare concerns rise during this production process. However, biotechnology offers an alternative solution for these issues: Synthetic Dairy.
A U.S.-based start-up company called Perfect Day is actively working toward a more sustainable future surrounding dairy farms. They use precision fermentation technologies and lab-grown ingredients to craft a more sustainable version of milk. Precision fermentation allows scientists greater control over the output of the desired product, hence why it is called “precision” fermentation and not just “fermentation.” Another company, TurtleTree, is also working toward a more sustainable future through the means of synthetic dairy. Their CEO, Fengru Lin, outlined their precision fermentation process:
First, microbes are instructed on how to make the desired product. Next, this microbial host is placed in a bioreactor supplied with all the nutrients and enzymes that it needs. When it's time to derive the product, it's separated from its host and purified. Finally, the product is tested to ensure that it is fully separated from contaminants and bacteria. At this point, the product is ready to be shipped to grocery stores.
Using these means to produce dairy results in miraculous benefits for our environment. A commissioned study exhibited how there would be 91-97% fewer greenhouse gas emissions, 29-60% lower energy demand, and 96-99% less water for dairy production.
Although plant-based meat is popular in today’s world, there are still reservations surrounding the production of synthetic dairy. As the concept is still new, there isn’t much knowledge surrounding the potential benefits of its consumption. Currently, synthetic dairy production is expensive and the process is fragile because of the alteration of cells. However, companies like PerfectDay and TurtleTree continue to advance their synthetic milk production and accessibility to ensure a more positive future for our environment.
References
“What Is Synthetic Milk? Is It More Sustainable and Healthier than Cow’s Milk?” Www.dairy.com.au, www.dairy.com.au/dairy-matters/you-ask-we-answer/what-is-synthetic-milk-is-it-more-sustainable-and-healthier-than-cows-milk.
“Synthetic Biology’s Miracle Milk - SynBioBeta.” Www.synbiobeta.com, www.synbiobeta.com/read/synthetic-biologys-miracle-milk.
“Precision Fermentation Simply Explained.” Www.susupport.com, www.susupport.com/knowledge/fermentation/precision-fermentation.
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