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By Agroempresario.com
Eclipse Ingredients, an Australia-based startup, is revolutionizing the way high-value health proteins like human lactoferrin are produced. With recent funding of AUD $7 million (about $5 million USD), including support from the Australian Government and strategic investors such as AgFunder, the company aims to make lactoferrin more accessible and scalable using precision fermentation technology.
Siobhan Coster, dietician-turned-founder of Eclipse Ingredients, calls lactoferrin “one of the most powerful health proteins out there.” Found naturally in human milk and bodily secretions, lactoferrin plays multiple crucial roles including anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects, immune support, microbiome regulation, and iron metabolism.
Despite its wide-ranging benefits, sourcing lactoferrin has traditionally been expensive and inefficient. Extracting it from cow’s milk is resource-intensive, requiring approximately 10,000 liters of milk to produce a single kilogram of lactoferrin. Furthermore, bovine lactoferrin differs structurally and functionally from the human version, limiting its efficacy in health and wellness products.
Coster stresses the importance of producing human lactoferrin: “It’s different to what our bodies have been producing and perfecting for thousands of years. Why settle for anything less?”
Eclipse Ingredients uses precision fermentation to produce human lactoferrin. This process involves inserting the DNA that codes for lactoferrin into genetically engineered yeast. The yeast grows in fermenters—similar to those used in brewing beer—where it produces human lactoferrin instead of alcohol.
“This technology is proven and established in pharma for decades, but we’re applying it to consumer health markets such as food, skincare, and infant formula,” explains Coster. The “capital-light” approach allows Eclipse to scale production without the huge costs typically associated with protein manufacturing.
Unlike pharmaceutical applications, where prices can reach millions of dollars per kilogram, Eclipse targets food and skincare industries where lactoferrin is effective in small doses. This means they can create a significant health impact with lower production volumes and costs.
Eclipse Ingredients distinguishes itself through a strong intellectual property (IP) strategy and execution model. Coster emphasizes the company’s patent portfolio, which she says will ensure long-term competitive advantage.
Michael Dean, partner at AgFunder, calls Eclipse “a pivotal investment in the future of accessible health.” He highlights the company’s potential to “disrupt the global wellness and skincare markets by solving a critical bottleneck in producing complex functional proteins at scale.”
The company plans to launch its first commercial human lactoferrin products in 2027, initially focusing on skincare applications. Eclipse is also exploring international partnerships to expand market reach.
Though the idea of producing human lactoferrin via precision fermentation is not new—initial attempts date back about 20 years—past technological and market limitations hindered large-scale adoption.
“Volumes needed were limited, and economic viability was out of reach,” Coster explains. Recent technological breakthroughs in fermentation efficiency and market growth in functional ingredients have now made production feasible.
Consumer trends have also shifted dramatically. Today’s consumers are highly health-conscious and demand ingredients with scientifically backed benefits. Lactoferrin’s broad health potential aligns perfectly with these demands.
“It’s really been a combination of factors—technology, market readiness, and consumer awareness—that make now the right time for human lactoferrin,” says Coster.
Scaling up precision fermentation at a commercial level poses challenges, including ensuring consistent quality, regulatory compliance, and cost control.
Eclipse Ingredients’ “capital-light” model helps mitigate some of these risks by focusing investment on core capabilities—patents, science, and people—while leveraging existing fermentation infrastructure.
Coster believes this focus will allow the company to reach market faster and more efficiently than competitors relying on capital-heavy manufacturing approaches.
The successful commercialization of human lactoferrin could reshape multiple sectors, from infant nutrition to functional foods, dietary supplements, and skincare.
Lactoferrin’s antimicrobial and immune-support properties make it a compelling ingredient in a post-pandemic world increasingly focused on health resilience.
Moreover, producing lactoferrin sustainably through fermentation reduces reliance on animal sources and aligns with broader environmental and ethical goals embraced by consumers and regulators alike.
