Mycofeast acquires Daisy Lab to expand precision-fermented dairy capabilities

Mycofeast, a biotechnology company founded in 2023, is acquiring Auckland-based Daisy Lab, which was established in 2021. The companies did not disclose the value or other financial terms of the transaction.

Mycofeast is headquartered in Oxford, Britain, and operates a biotechnology facility in California and a 16m-litre fermentation plant in Poland. Its portfolio covers carotenoids, dairy proteins and other biologically produced ingredients and compounds.

The company develops these products through Evolutia Bio, an innovation platform combining artificial-intelligence discovery, high-throughput screening and genetic engineering. Its capabilities include microbial strain development, biosynthesis, enzyme design, fermentation scale-up and industrial production.

Daisy Lab produces proteins that it describes as bioidentical to dairy proteins using precision fermentation. Its principal programmes include lactoferrin, a high-value milk protein used in specialised nutrition and health applications, alongside other recombinant dairy proteins. The company has advanced its platform from laboratory work to 500-litre fermentation and has built internal expertise in molecular biology, fermentation, downstream processing and scale-up.

Mycofeast said the acquisition fits its strategy of bringing together scientific discovery, strain and process development, industrial manufacturing and market access. Witek Hruzewicz, its chief executive, said the sector had substantial scientific capability but faced difficulty linking research with process development, manufacturing, financing and commercial markets at workable economics. He described Daisy Lab’s dairy-protein platform, scale-up experience and New Zealand team as complementary to Mycofeast’s operations.

The transaction is intended to give Mycofeast an entry into the Asia-Pacific market. Daisy Lab chief executive and co-founder Irina Miller said the combination would provide access to a broader scientific, manufacturing and commercial platform, while allowing her team’s expertise to be used across the larger group. Daisy Lab’s founders will take positions within Mycofeast and continue work beyond the New Zealand business.

Daisy Lab’s lactoferrin programme will remain within the combined group. It will work with the Evolutia Bio research and development team in California and with Mycofeast’s engineering, commercial and manufacturing operations.