Finally Foods, an Israeli food-tech startup, has unveiled the world’s first genetically modified potatoes that contain cow-milk protein, a breakthrough that could reshape the dairy industry, according to a report of Israeli newspaper Ynet.
The company, part of the Strauss Group’s The Kitchen incubator, is preparing for its first field trial next month in southern Israel, near Gaza, where the modified potatoes will be grown.
Once harvested, the potatoes will undergo processing to extract casein protein powder, a key component in dairy production. Casein, which makes up about 80% of milk proteins, is crucial for cheese-making and provides the melting, stretching, and foaming qualities in dairy products.
Founded just a year ago, Finally Foods specializes in molecular agriculture, using potatoes as bio-reactors to produce casein. This approach offers a sustainable alternative to traditional dairy farming, which is resource-intensive and contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions. The company believes plant-based dairy proteins could address growing concerns over climate change and food security.
The technology behind this innovation was developed with AI-driven genetic engineering by Israeli biotech firm Evogene. By analyzing vast genetic databases, researchers identified animal-derived DNA sequences that could be integrated into plants, enabling potatoes to function as biological factories for protein production. The AI system is continuously refining both the growth process and protein yield.