US first approval for plant-grown animal proteins
Moolec Science, a leader in Molecular Farming technology in food and dietary supplementation, has reached a significant achievement with their genetically engineered soybean, "Piggy Sooy." On April 22nd, 2024, Moolec announced that they are the first Molecular Farming Company to gain the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) approval for plant-grown animal proteins. This approval, granted by the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), establishes Piggy Sooy as the first soybean containing animal meat protein.
Their innovative technology involves integrating animal protein genes into plants like soybeans, enabling the production of meat protein directly within the plant. In the case of Piggy Sooy, this means synthesizing porcine myoglobin, the principal chemical ingredient that affects meat color and is enriched in oxidative muscle fibers in pork.
Moolec emphasizes the potential of this breakthrough to address climate change and global food security by reducing the need for traditional livestock farming, which has a greater environmental impact.
Moolec highlights Piggy Sooy's twofold advantage: it delivers comparable nutrition to animal meat protein while also delivering positive environmental outcomes. The company asserts that it contains substantial levels of pork protein (as much as 26.6% of the overall soluble protein) and showcases an eco-friendlier production method compared to traditional meat production.
The USDA's assessment finds Piggy Sooy to pose minimal plant pest risk and has determined that this particular soybean variant is exempt from Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) regulations. However, this exemption is specific to this soybean type and underscores the need for review if further modifications or unforeseen consequences arise. It's important to note that this exemption doesn't negate regulations from other agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Moolec is in talks with the FDA for approval to sell their ingredient commercially, seeing it as a crucial step before Piggy Sooy reaches food manufacturers and consumers.
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