Moolec Science SA, a pioneering company in science-based food ingredients, has confirmed the harvest of its genetically engineered products GLASO™ and Piggy Sooy™ in the US, marking significant milestones for the firm.
The harvest, set to take place in October 2024, involves two major campaigns. The first, GLASO™, is based in Idaho, where 600 acres of genetically modified safflower have been cultivated. This crop is engineered to produce high levels of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), a beneficial fatty acid. Moolec expects to harvest between 300 to 400 tons of GLA-rich safflower seeds. The company has secured an offtake agreement with a leading global consumer packaged goods company, with production set to begin in late 2024 and products reaching the US market in 2025. GLASO™ offers nearly three times more GLA than traditional sources like borage and primrose oil, positioning it as the most concentrated GLA oil available.
The second campaign involves Piggy Sooy™, a genetically engineered soybean designed to produce porcine myoglobin, an essential protein in meat. Field trials for Piggy Sooy™ are being conducted across three US states: Ohio, Missouri, and Iowa. These trials aim to advance product development, increase seed yield, and gather crucial environmental and regulatory data. This follows Moolec’s recent achievement of receiving USDA-APHIS approval for the cultivation of Piggy Sooy™, making it the first company to grow food crops with animal proteins in US territory.
Martin Salinas, Moolec’s Chief Technology Officer and Co-Founder, highlighted the company’s commitment to advancing Molecular Farming technology. “Our GLASO™ campaign and the Piggy Sooy™ field trials underscore our role as industry pioneers and our dedication to sustainable agricultural and biotechnological solutions,” he said. Salinas added, “One acre of Piggy Sooy™ could potentially produce pork meat proteins equivalent to ten pigs, significantly reducing water use, land requirements, and CO2 emissions. This demonstrates our commitment to improving environmental sustainability in meat production.”
Moolec Science continues to drive innovation in the biotechnology sector, aiming to revolutionise food production with environmentally friendly and efficient solutions.
