Molecular farming company IngredientWerks has developed a proprietary corn that expresses high levels of the heme protein bovine myoglobin.

The company described its achievement as a “major milestone” for the alternative protein industry. Bovine myoglobin is traditionally found in the muscle tissue of cows. IngredientWerks’ heme protein, said to be bioidentical to its animal-derived counterpart, can be used to mimic the taste, texture and aroma of meat in alternative protein applications.

Using corn as a “manufactory” for the production of high value proteins, IngredientWerks said it is leveraging the capacity of the US’ agricultural cultivation and processing infrastructure to produce the proteins at industrial scale, with a carbon neutral footprint and reduced cost.

In the second quarter of this year, the company confirmed that its myoglobin production platform had significantly exceeded its initial target expression level of heme at 10mgs per gram of corn. IngredientWerks has now filed a patent application for its technology.

Matt Plavan, CEO of IngredientWerks compared the achievement for the alternative protein industry to the advancement of lithium-ion battery technology for the electric vehicle market.

He commented: “Plant-based and alternative foods are solidifying their place in the mainstream diet. As they become more readily available in stores and on menus, consumers are setting the bar for taste and cost higher than ever before.”

“That means the production of quality, affordable, accessible and sustainable ingredients are critical in this new era of food production. I’m continually amazed at the ingenuity and dedication of the IngredientWerks research team, and excited to bring this valuable solution to the industry!”

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