Perfect Day, a global leader in the research, development and production of animal-free dairy, has announced a joint development agreement with Archer Daniels Midland Co. (ADM) to develop and commercialize animal-free dairy proteins.

Under this agreement, the companies will work together to optimize and scale up the production of dairy proteins using fermentation in microflora. These animal-free dairy proteins will be the first in the world to be produced at a large scale via fermentation instead of using farm animals, which have historically been the only way to produce dairy proteins.

Animal-free dairy proteins will not only offer consumers a lactose-free, animal-free alternative to conventional animal-based dairy but also provide a portfolio of nutritious and functional high-purity proteins with a similar taste and nutrition profile to dairy proteins for a wide range of food and beverage applications, Perfect Day said.

The partnership brings Perfect Day substantially closer to introducing a new category of ingredients to the food industry, and participation by an established market leader highlights its strong prospects for creating a sustainable supply of protein.

“ADM has been a leader in plant proteins for decades," said Victoria de la Huerga, vice president of ADM Ventures. “We are excited to work with Perfect Day to launch a complementary source of dairy protein that could lead to a myriad of opportunities for food innovators and consumers.”

Ryan Pandya, co-founder and chief executive officer of Perfect Day, said, “We are on a journey to bring sustainable, nutritious and delicious dairy to everyone. We are thrilled to partner with ADM, a global leader in fermentation, to accelerate our path to market. With this partnership, we will enable brands to make your favorite foods in a kinder, greener way.”