Molecular protein startup Moolec Science is using pig genes to enhance the meaty taste of soybeans in order to reduce our consumption of actual meat.
Moolec has made a recent attempt to address a harmful environmental practice. They used pig genes in plants to produce pig proteins, and found that a significant portion of the soybeans contained pig proteins. The noteworthy aspect is that this was achieved without the need for factory farming pigs.
CEO Gastón Paladini claims that the beans were not only more pink in color but also had a stronger meat-like flavor. However, it remains uncertain if the product will eventually be available for consumption.
Instead of replacing meat outright, Paladini is hoping to offer meat producers a way to reduce their costs by mixing in other meat alternatives like Mootec’s porky soybeans.
Moolec was spun out of a different company called Bioceres Crop Solutions, which is also working on having pea plants produce beef proteins and safflower to produce milk coagulants.
But whether either company will have success in bringing their meat-like ingredients to broader markets and revitalizing an ailing industry remains uncertain. For one, Moolec’s soybeans fall foul of EU and UK GMO regulations.
Reference- Moolec Newsroom, Futurism, The Guardian, Wired story