Strive Nutrition partners to scale precision-fermented alpha-lactalbumin
Strive Nutrition partners with Dyadic and Brig Bio to scale production of precision-fermented alpha-lactalbumin, targeting over 200 tonnes annually for its Freemilk line and infant nutrition.
Strive Nutrition has partnered with Dyadic Applied BioSolutions and Brig Bio to scale production of precision-fermented alpha-lactalbumin. The collaboration aims to overcome the historic difficulty of sourcing this desirable dairy protein, which requires 1,000 litres of conventional milk to produce just one kilogram in purified form.
Alpha-lactalbumin is a nutrient-dense whey protein. It constitutes around 36% of the whey in human milk, playing a key role in infant nutrition. In dairy whey, it makes up 17% of the content and is linked to benefits for adults, including improved sleep, cognitive resilience, and stress relief. Bovine alpha-lactalbumin is already a major component of children's and adult nutritional products, but its high cost has limited widespread use.
The precision fermentation solution
Precision fermentation involves inserting DNA into microbes, engineering them to produce specific molecules like dairy proteins during fermentation. This method bypasses the need for cows. Dyadic contributes its Dapibus protein production platform, designed to lower per-kilogram costs through high yields. Brig Bio is focused on advancing the Dapibus strain and production process toward commercially viable manufacturing.
Steven Welle, Brig Bio's Co-founder and CEO, believes precision-fermented alpha-lactalbumin has the potential to become an important next-generation nutrition ingredient. The animal-free fermentation process represents a significant opportunity to improve access to this highly desirable component.
Strive's expansion and market presence
Strive Nutrition is the Wichita, Kansas-based food tech startup behind the Freemilk brand. The company first launched Freemilk in 2022 using precision-fermented beta-lactoglobulin from Perfect Day. Over the last 12 months, it has expanded the line, placing new 48-ounce bottles of original and chocolate milk in Walmart. The product is lactose-free, cholesterol-free, OU Pareve certified, and made to taste like conventional milk.
| Product Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Protein Content | 10g of animal-free whey protein per cup |
| Key Retailers | Walmart nationwide, Hy-Vee's 270 Midwest stores, leading NYC metro grocers |
| Total Store Count | More than 2,000 stores |
Strive is now looking to commercialise its own alpha-lactalbumin protein for its Freemilk platform and other nutritional products.
Partnership timeline and targets
The strategic collaboration was announced on November 10, 2026. Dyadic and Brig Bio will work to optimise production of the protein, focusing on productivity, quality, and manufacturing economics. Strive Nutrition will evaluate protein samples for formulation and application testing.
Joe Hazelton, President of Dyadic, stated the objective is to improve production economics and connect technology with key partners. The partnership is targeting regulatory clearance, specifically the completion of the GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) process, for bovine alpha-lactalbumin in early 2028.
Subsequent production targets are as follows:
| Production Phase | Target Output |
|---|---|
| Initial Commercial Availability | More than 10 metric tonnes |
| Long-term Annual Output | More than 200 metric tonnes |
Dennis Cohlmia, Chairman and CEO of Strive Nutrition, highlighted the protein's significance. "Alpha-lactalbumin is an especially exciting protein because of its important role in human nutrition and its potential to help us develop better nutritional products," he said. Upon successful development, scale-up, and regulatory readiness, the parties will negotiate a definitive commercial supply agreement. The collaboration's first major milestone is to make over 10 metric tonnes of the precision-fermented ingredient commercially available.
