Milk production without cows: the biggest plant in the world opens in Denmark
31.5.2022
Priority question for written answer P-001990/2022
to the Commission
Rule 138
Mara Bizzotto (ID)
The start-up Remilk, having raised USD 120 million in investment capital, will now open the biggest plant in the world for production of milk obtained from precision fermentation on a 70 000 m site in Kalundborg in Denmark.
The fermentation process uses yeasts to produce milk proteins (casein and whey) without recourse to animals, with, according to the company, organoleptic results that are indistinguishable from the proteins in cow’s milk.
The company’s CEO, Aviv Wolff[1], says, ‘We’re making dairy products that are identical to cow-milk products, with the same taste, texture, stretchiness, meltiness, (...). We intend to massively scale up our production capabilities to make nutritious, delicious, and affordable dairy that will send cows into early retirement.’
Initially, the company aims to cater for cheese and dairy producers and processing industries but wants in the future to supply end consumers with lines of ‘animal-free’ products.
In view of the above:
- 1.Does the Commission know about this methodology for producing milk and dairy products?
- 2.What is its assessment of these products and how will it protect the EU’s livestock farmers and traditional milk producers?
- 3.Does it know whether Remilk has received any funding from the EU and if so, how much?
- [1] https://www.timesofisrael.com/israels-remilk-to-open-worlds-largest-facility-for-cow-free-milk-in-denmark/