After 18 months of operating in secret, the German start-up Senara has emerged to disrupt the conventional milk market (derived from cows, sheep, goats, donkeys, etc.) with milk obtained through cellular cultivation, according to FoodNavigator.

Obtaining cells from milk, not tissue

Operating stealthily for the past year and a half, Senara claims to be the first cultivated milk company in Europe. The start-up targets the animal milk market in an attempt to make milk more sustainable and digestible for everyone, including those with allergies.

In typical EU diets, milk alone accounts for a quarter of the carbon footprint, sometimes reaching up to a third. Globally, the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates that global dairy production represents about 4% of total anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs).

Senara is not the only cultivated milk company in Europe: Nūmi, which cultivates human milk cells for infant nutrition, was founded in Paris last year. Senara's approach is to produce milk outside of cows and other milk-producing animals.

A sustainable process and product

From the beginning, founder and CEO Dr. Svenja Dannewitz wanted to create a sustainable, circular process with minimal interactions with the animals themselves. Instead of sourcing cells from cows to recreate milk, the start-up developed a process to source cells from the milk itself.

"We don't interfere directly with the animals, which I think is a much more elegant solution," explained Dr. Dannewitz.

Senara has also developed a selection process to choose the most efficient cells for milk production. From there, it's about providing the right environment, temperature, and nutrients for the cells to double and grow, said Dr. Dannewitz to FoodNavigator.

Unlike other types of cell cultivation processes, for example, those used to create cultured meat, Senara does not need to separate proteins from biomass. Instead, the company takes only what the cells secrete: milk. This makes the process more energy-efficient and sustainable and allows for a continuous cultivation process.

Although the technology used is not precision fermentation, it is similar in that cell secretion becomes the final product. "This makes it more cost-effective in production compared to cultured meat. With our technology, we can truly address the mass market of animal milk," added Dr. Dannewitz.

Regarding the final purification process, the founder explained that it must adhere to general food safety rules. However, compared to conventional milk, much less cooling is needed since it does not contain bacteria and yeast. "We found a way to produce full milk without the need for excessive purification steps afterward."

"The purest form of fresh milk you can have"

Senara cultivates cells for most animals. However, for some, sourcing cells directly from their milk is more of a challenge. "For some types of animals, it's not preferable to take cells from milk. Milking a buffalo is almost impossible if you want to come out alive," she half-jokingly remarked.

In this case, resorting to tissue biopsies is the only way. But it's a small needle, she emphasized.

Senara works with cow's milk but is also examining cells from other types of milk to test their efficiency. "We have cells from bison, zebu, donkey, as well as goats and sheep. We want to produce a complete range of animal-origin milk."

The ambition is to fully mimic the nutritional benefits of conventional milk but without bacteria or antibiotic residues. "Milk is the purest form of fresh milk you can have."

There is also the possibility of further differentiating Senara's milk by developing products with higher A2 protein qualities or making lactose-free milk. Regarding how the start-up would develop these varieties, Dr. Dannewitz said there are "many levers that can be pulled."

Hesitant to reveal too much, she said the company attracts "different types of cells," uses customized cell media without FCS, and has a screening process. "The milk we produce is non-GMO, so we don't need to resort to genetic editing to achieve these goals."

Senara's CEO wants everyone to have access to fresh milk, even those with intolerances. "What we produce is standard milk or milk rich in A2 protein. This allows a much larger number of people to digest the milk. We also have a lactose-free option that we can produce directly in our bioreactors, without the need to add additional enzymes afterward."

This could prove beneficial for Asian markets, where approximately 90% of consumers are estimated to be lactose intolerant.

Expansion using customized bioreactors

Another way Senara distinguishes itself is through its equipment: the start-up has developed a customized bioreactor for cultivating milk cells.

Current bioreactors on the market are largely used for growing bacteria or yeast cells, which have different requirements than animal cells.

Senara's approach is to develop a system that optimizes the growth and lifespan of primary cells. A patent has been filed for this technology.

Although bioprocess scaling is known to be among the biggest challenges for biotechnology start-ups, for Senara, owning custom bioreactor equipment is one of its "main advantages."

Others struggle to move from a microliter scale to milliliters and then continue to grow, explained Dr. Dannewitz. But Senara designed its processes "with an eye on upscaling."

An obstacle overcome

"We tested it, and we've already moved past this kind of step," revealed the founder. Senara is currently working with a 100 L pilot-scale bioreactor. Upscaling is estimated to be "easier," considering the company is already working at the pilot scale.

Once at scale, Senara wants to produce drinking milk as well as milk for yogurt and cream production. It can also be used in ice cream and chocolate confectionery. The start-up is already in discussions with "several industry players" interested in introducing a new product like Senara's into their product lines.

Senara is backed by Positron Ventures, PurpleOrange Ventures, Partners in Clime, Black Forest Business Angels, and SquareOne Food.

Before being stacked on the dairy aisle or incorporated into confectionery products, Senara's cell-cultivated milk must undergo regulatory approval. The timing works in its favor, suggested the CEO.

"A lot of governments have made efforts to push this forward, including in the EU. They know they will miss out if they are not more proactive."

Senara expects a transition to more cell-cultivated foods in the next two years and, by 2028, considers that cell-cultivated milk will be a standard option on supermarket shelves.