MilkNoids

Unraveling the potential for mammary organoids for cell-based milk productions

PROJECT INFO:

DURATION: 
2025-2026
 
FUNDING:
The Mission Partnership 
 

PARTNERS:
Aarhus University (AU-FOOD)
Aarhus University (AU-ANIVET) 
PlanetDairy ApS

CHALLENGE

Need for sustainable alternatives to conventional milk production

TECHNOLOGY

Cell‑based milk production using mammary organoids

POTENTIAL

Enables novel, low‑impact dairy ingredients and products

Goal

The aim of MilkNoids is to investigate and obtain proof-of-concept of using mammary organoids from cow mammary tissue or milk for cellular milk production and to predict possible use of such in vitro secreted milk constituents depending on their ability to form components that mimic those of milk, both in terms of structure and functionality.


Plan

MilkNoids plans to:

  • Isolate mammary epithelial, progenitor and stem cells from milk and mammary tissue
  • Grow and differentiate these cells to mammary organoids
  • Characterize milk constituents from secretomes and organoids
  • Assess if milk proteins and fatty acids are secreted in supramolecular structures as casein micelles and milk fat globules
  • Evaluate the use of secretomes as functional ingredients in hybrid products also containing plant ingredient
  • Calculate carbon footprint of early-stage milk obtained from organoids


Expected results

MilkNoids will address challenges regarding milk secretions by using novel approaches for cell culturing and harvest of secretomes and will therefore provide a basis for further research and application in the area. The results can contribute to strategies for adaptation and upscaling of the technology for the industry including assessment of the overall impact on carbon footprint.

PARTNERS:
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The project is part of the Mission Partnership, and the funding is provided by Innovation Fund Denmark.

We continuously open new calls and programmes that support innovation within food and bioresources.

Mette Kallestrup Spring

Mette Kallestrup Spring

Program Manager (mission partnership)

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