As global demand for sustainable and ethically produced food sources rises, companies like New Zealand-based Daisy Lab are leading the charge in transforming how we think about dairy. Founded in 2021, Daisy Lab has become a pioneer in precision fermentation, producing animal-free milk proteins. Recently, CEO Irina Miller shared how Daisy Lab has leveraged INFORS HT bioreactors to support their groundbreaking work in this field.
Precision fermentation: The future of dairy
Co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer, Nikki Freed, highlighted in an interview with RNZ in May 2024, the wide-reaching applications of precision fermentation. While the technology has been historically used for creating products like insulin, vanilla flavoring, and rennet for cheese-making, Daisy Lab’s innovation involves producing milk proteins such as whey, casein, and lactoferrin without the use of animals. Freed emphasized, “Many people don't understand how we're already using precision fermentation in many of the foods that people are already consuming today. What is new is using it for proteins that are traditionally found in milk."
Powering precision fermentation at Daisy Lab
At the heart of Daisy Lab's process is the use of INFORS HT bioreactors. Initially, Daisy Lab borrowed two Multifors instruments from an academic group, which allowed them to scale their precision fermentation processes. These small-scale fermenters were pivotal in early trials of producing their animal-free milk proteins.
Recognizing the need for greater efficiency, Daisy Lab invested in the Minifors 2 bioreactor, sourced from In Vitro Technologies in partnership with INFORS HT. This “small but mighty” bioreactor has since become an essential part of their laboratory setup, contributing to automation and data tracking—two critical elements for scaling precision fermentation. Irina Miller praised the Minifors 2 as a real "workhorse" in their lab, stating, "The Minifors 2 has allowed us to streamline our fermentation process and improve the planning, controlling, and analyzing of our bioprocesses.”
Scaling up with Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) approval
In a recent milestone, Daisy Lab secured approval from the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) to scale their production 500-fold. This is a significant leap forward for their goal of supplying animal-free proteins to dairy manufacturers globally. Freed commented that this EPA approval is a crucial step towards the use of larger stainless-steel bioreactors, which will allow Daisy Lab to move from lab-scale fermentation to large-scale production. These bioreactors will be instrumental in the purification and production of dried proteins, which can be used in traditional dairy products.
Recognizing innovation
As Daisy Lab continues its upward trajectory, the team has also been recognized for their innovative work. Co-founder Emily McIsaac recently took home the prestigious North Harbour Club Innovation Award, securing a $30,000 prize for their groundbreaking research and became a finalist in the KiweNet Research Commercialization Award. Daisy Lab is now actively fundraising to build its first pilot facility, which will mark a new phase in the commercialization of animal-free dairy proteins. INFORS HT is proud to support Daisy Lab as they prepare to scale their operations and continue their mission to reshape the future of dairy.
INFORS HT: Partnering for success
At INFORS HT, we are excited to continue partnering with Daisy Lab as they expand their use of bioreactors to meet their growing production needs. With a focus on innovation, flexibility, and reliability, INFORS HT bioreactors are designed to support groundbreaking research and development in fields like precision fermentation.