In the world of infant nutrition, breast milk has long been hailed as the gold standard. Packed with over 2,000 unique compounds, it supports a baby’s growth, immune system, and microbiome in ways no formula has been able to fully replicate. However, for families unable to breastfeed exclusively—a group that includes 75% of newborns in the U.S.—infant formula has been the go-to alternative. But what if science could close the gap? Enter lab-grown breast milk: an innovation leveraging biotech to create milk closer to the real thing.
This nascent field attracts significant investment, with startups promising products that could transform infant nutrition. New York-based Helaina raised $45 million in September 2024 to develop bioidentical breast milk proteins, while California’s Checkerspot secured $55 million in 2023 to create human milk fat through microalgal fermentation. These efforts reflect a growing global trend, as the cell-based milk market—valued at $450 million in 2023—is projected to grow 8.8% annually through 2029.
But is lab-grown breast milk ready to live up to the hype, and what challenges lie ahead?
Why Breast Is Best (and So Hard to Replicate)
Breast milk is more than just nourishment; it’s a living fluid that changes composition based on the baby’s needs. Dr. Rafael Perez-Escamilla, director of Yale’s Maternal and Child Health Promotion program, explains, “When the baby latches to the mother’s breast, their immune systems communicate. Even during a single session, the milk’s composition evolves.”
This dynamic complexity is what makes breast milk unparalleled—and so difficult for traditional formulas to mimic. Most formulas, derived from modified cow’s milk, fall short of providing human milk’s unique sugars, proteins, and fats, such as human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) and lactoferrin. These compounds play a crucial role in an infant’s microbiome and immune development.
Lab-grown breast milk startups aim to narrow this gap by cultivating human mammary cells or using precision fermentation to produce these critical components.
Startups In The Space:
- Biomilq: Cultivating Milk from Mammary Cells – Durham-based Biomilq is one of the pioneers in cell-based human milk. Co-founded by cell biologist Leila Strickland, the company uses mammary cells donated by lactating women. Cultured in bioreactors, these cells produce a mix of milk compounds, including HMOs and the multifunctional protein osteopontin. Biomilq’s process takes 30 days, and while they’ve successfully produced complex milk-like mixtures, scaling for commercial use remains a hurdle. The company aims to launch its first products by 2035.
- TurtleTree: From Cow-Free Milk to Infant Nutrition – Singaporean startup TurtleTree initially aimed to create milk without cows but soon expanded into human milk components. Using precision fermentation, they engineered yeast to produce bovine lactoferrin, a protein known for its immune-boosting properties. Their first application? A sports drink infused with lactoferrin. TurtleTree plans to incorporate this technology into infant formula and eventually develop human lactoferrin—a process requiring longer regulatory approval timelines.
- Helaina: Unlocking Bioactive Proteins – Helaina’s founder, Laura Katz, has taken a targeted approach by focusing on specific proteins rather than whole milk. Using gene-edited yeast, Helaina produces human lactoferrin, a protein abundant in colostrum. This innovation is already being sold to food and nutrition companies, with broader applications in infant formula expected in the coming years.
The Science of Sugar and Fat
Some startups are focusing on specific components of breast milk to bridge the nutritional gap. For example:
- Wilk, an Israeli company, is working on recreating human milk fats using mammary cells. These fats, essential for infant brain development, are challenging to produce at scale.
- Checkerspot has developed a sustainable alternative to palm oil by recreating the triglyceride OPO, the primary fat in breast milk, using microalgae.
- Researchers at UC Berkeley and UC Davis are using genetically modified plants to produce HMOs, offering a scalable, cost-effective solution to one of breast milk’s most critical ingredients.
Challenges and Ethical Considerations
Despite their promise, lab-grown breast milk technologies face significant hurdles:
- Scaling Up: Producing complex milk components at a commercial scale remains costly and technically challenging.
- Regulatory Oversight: As bioactive substances, these compounds require rigorous safety evaluations. Experts like Perez-Escamilla caution that improper concentrations could have unintended effects on infants.
- Consumer Trust: Convincing parents to adopt lab-grown alternatives will require transparent communication about safety, efficacy, and benefits.
Moreover, some critics argue that these innovations could distract from breastfeeding support initiatives. The World Health Organization and UNICEF emphasize that breastfeeding provides benefits beyond nutrition, including bonding and immune protection.
Lab-grown breast milk is still in its infancy, but its potential to revolutionize infant nutrition is promising. With advancements in biotech, companies are becoming closer than ever to creating alternatives.
Will these innovations complement breastfeeding or replace traditional formula? The answer depends on scaling technology, navigating regulatory landscapes, and addressing ethical concerns. For now, lab-grown breast milk offers a promising glimpse into a future where no baby is left without access to the next best thing to mother’s milk.
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