The dairy industry accounts for 4% of manmade greenhouse gas emissions, according to the FAO. As consumers become increasingly conscious of sustainability and health, more and more are turning to plant-based milks. But some dairy lovers remain unconvinced by the taste and want alternatives that rival the taste and functionality of animal-based milk, cheese, butter, yogurt and cream. One biotech startup has a solution: engineering mammal cells to create real milk, at a fraction of the environmental footprint of dairy farming. TurtleTree Labs, based in Singapore, says it is the first company in the world to develop cell-based milk. Alongside cows, goats and sheep, TurtleTree is able to produce human breast milk. The only company to tackle this controversial space, TurtleTree is aiming to disrupt the over 50 billion dollar baby formula industry. Alternatively, a number of alternative dairy startups are developing microbial fermentation technology. California-based Perfect Day is currently the most well-funded in the field, after its US$300 million Series C round last year, and counts Li Ka-shing as a backer. Perfect Day uses fungi to “brew” molecularly identical dairy proteins. These can be used to make milk, cheese and ice cream with the same taste and texture as real dairy. The process produces up to 97% fewer greenhouse gas emissions than conventional dairy. Founded in 2014, Perfect Day’s dairy proteins have already been incorporated into a number of consumer products, including Ice Age! ice creams in Hong Kong.

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