Known affectionately as “pink gold,” TurtleTree premiers its highly-prized, health-boosting, pink-hued protein LF+ in an exclusive tasting before 2023 market entry.

TurtleTree, a global leader in animal-free functional dairy proteins, will today debut the world’s first precision fermentation-produced lactoferrin, LF+, a high-value bioactive milk protein and one of the most powerful parts of cow’s milk, with great functional benefits for immunity, iron regulation, and digestive health. TurtleTree will host an exclusive tasting event tonight in San Francisco, giving investors and food partners a sneak peek at the protein’s potential ahead of its launch later this year. Guests will enjoy LF+-powered food and beverages that deliver delicious, unadulterated flavor coupled with health-boosting benefits.

Lactoferrin, otherwise known as “pink gold” because of its high value and iron-rich pink hue, is naturally found in cow’s milk, but the low concentrations and current resource-intensive extraction processes limit access for many people. To put the value of lactoferrin into context with other dairy proteins like whey, which costs approximately $1 USD per kilogram, lactoferrin retails at between $700 to $1,500 USD per kilogram. These prices reflect the significant resources necessary to extract the highly-prized protein, with up to 10,000 liters of milk—or nearly 50 cows producing a week’s worth of milk - required to obtain just 1 kilogram of purified lactoferrin.

While lactoferrin is already used in supplements and infant formulas today, supply scarcity means that demand cannot be met for other fertile segments like sports nutrition, where the protein’s iron-regulating benefits can improve physical performance, aiding endurance, fatigue resistance, muscle strength, and energetic efficiency. Accessing lactoferrin directly through off-the-shelf whole cow’s milk can be a challenge, with pasteurization removing up to 50% of the naturally occurring protein. Furthermore, for conscious consumers who make the switch to plant-based milk, where lactoferrin is not inherently present, maintaining intake of this important nutrient can be a struggle.

Through the use of precision fermentation - harnessing microbes as tiny factories embedded with lactoferrin’s unique recipe - TurtleTree is removing high methane-emitting cows from the lactoferrin supply chain and unlocking an abundant, sustainable, and affordable source of the highly-prized nutrient. In doing so, TurtleTree is enabling the fortification of plant-based dairy products and other everyday foods, allowing all segments of the population to enjoy lactoferrin’s benefits. With recent headlines criticizing plant-based food makers for falling short of consumer expectations on product nutrition - a key predictor of market adoption - TurtleTree is demonstrating how precision fermentation-derived proteins can help reduce the nutritional gap between conventional and plant-based products.

After TurtleTree’s commercial launch of LF+, which is anticipated for Q4 2023, the company sees a clear path to profitability on a per unit basis within six to 12 months.

To learn more about LF+ watch the video below

Connect with TurtleTree directly using the green button below.