Pithree years ago, in February 2020 Biomilka start-up company announced that it had successfully used cells to produce lactose and casein, a sugar and protein found in the mother’s body. milk.

The company, founded by two women from North Carolina, USA, develops in its laboratories technologies related to breast milk and ways to produce it outside the human body. in an experiment that pushes the boundaries of science and fatherhood.

The idea first came to founder and chief scientist Leila Strickland in 2013 when she heard about the world’s first lab-made hamburger. A cell biologist herself, she wondered if a similar technology could be used to grow cells that produce breast milk.

Breast milk is often referred to as the “ideal food”. Its claimed benefits include protection against asthma, diabetes, diarrhea, eczema, obesity, and even sudden death syndrome.

An extended shutdown of Abbott’s plant, coupled with general supply chain issues for infant formula ingredients and packaging due to the pandemic, has led to a rapid depletion of infant formula stocks.

More than a year after supplies ran out, a former Food and Drug Administration official said in late March that US supplies of infant formula were still vulnerable due to disruptions and security concerns.

While the crisis has highlighted the importance of alternative baby food supplies, breast milk experts all stress the same thing: breast milk is best. But many US policies, including the lack of paid parental leave, make this option out of reach for many parents.

If Biomilq can bring its revolutionary formula to market and keep prices low, it could be a game-changer,” said Marian Perrin, professor of breast milk at the University of North Carolina Greensboro.

According to CNBC