Miruku

Miruku is a New Zealand-based food and biotechnology company developing animal-free dairy proteins and fats using molecular farming. Its approach modifies plant cells so that they act as production units for proteins, fats and sugars conventionally obtained from animals, positioning the company at the intersection of future food, biotechnology and agriculture.

The company describes its core programme as a 'Dairy Seed System', in which engineered oilseed crops accumulate dairy proteins and fats in their seeds. The seeds are intended to be planted, grown, harvested and processed into ingredients using existing agricultural and processing infrastructure, which the company frames as a route to scale. Target outputs include ingredients for traditional dairy formats such as cheese and yoghurt, as well as new product formats. Work is carried out in the company's own laboratories and greenhouses and through farmer, corporate and research partnerships.

Miruku frames its work around dairy production constraints, shortcomings it attributes to existing plant-based foods on taste, texture, nutrition and formulation flexibility, food security diversification and the effects of changing climate and soils on crop suitability.