U.S. company Planet Green enters the disputed lactoferrin market

Planet Green is preparing to enter the lactoferrin market as demand for the milk-derived ingredient expands. Annual lactoferrin sales in China are projected to exceed $100 million by 2030, while the global market could reach $500 million over the same period.

The company’s chief executive, Zhou Bin, described lactoferrin as an essential glycoprotein involved in the body’s immune response. He said it is the main ingredient in Planet Green’s chewable immunity tablets.

Lactoferrin is extracted from cow’s milk through a process the company describes as complex, expensive and low-yield. Those production characteristics contribute to the high prices paid for the ingredient on international markets, according to Zhou.

Demand is not limited to immunity supplements. Lactoferrin is also used in infant formula, sports-nutrition products and dietary supplements, giving the ingredient applications across several product categories linked to dairy raw materials.

To support its strategy, Planet Green plans to create a chief scientist position within its executive team. The role will focus on identifying research sources, setting scientific-investment priorities, assessing joint ventures and determining when new products should be launched.

Planet Green said it has already identified a candidate connected to a United States academic institution, and that negotiations to fill the position are at an advanced stage. The company, Planet Green Holdings, operates a diversified portfolio that includes consumer products and online advertising through subsidiaries in mainland China and Canada.