TurtleTree partners with Novonesis to scale fermented lactoferrin

TurtleTree, a biotechnology startup focused on precision fermentation, has partnered with Novonesis to scale production of its fermented lactoferrin, a dairy protein designed for applications in nutrition, supplements and health products. The agreement, announced in July 2026, includes a minority investment from Novonesis and participation from 321Catalyst Ventures, the corporate venture capital arm of Mitsui Chemicals, according to AgFunderNews.

The partnership aims to help TurtleTree move from development toward commercial-scale manufacturing by combining its biotechnology platform with Novonesis’ experience in biosolutions, fermentation and industrial production.

Based in the United States and Singapore, TurtleTree has shifted its strategy in recent years from developing cell-cultured milk in bioreactors to focusing on precision fermentation, a technology that uses microorganisms to produce specific proteins without relying on traditional animal-based extraction methods.

Its first commercial focus is lactoferrin, a protein naturally found in milk that has attracted attention for its potential benefits related to immune support, gut health and iron regulation. Because extracting lactoferrin from conventional dairy sources remains expensive, companies have increasingly explored fermentation-based alternatives.

The protein is sometimes referred to as “pink gold” because of its high value and growing demand in nutrition markets.

According to AgFunderNews, TurtleTree received a No Questions letter from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its lactoferrin product LF+, marking the first regulatory recognition worldwide for lactoferrin produced through precision fermentation.

TurtleTree founder and CEO Fengru Lin said the company’s main challenge is reaching production costs that fit the food industry.

“With every startup, the biggest challenge is getting to unit economics that makes sense for the food industry, especially when we’re using techniques that are a lot of times brought over by the therapeutics or the pharma industry,” Lin said, according to AgFunderNews.

The company is especially focused on early-life nutrition, a market that requires higher quality standards than traditional food categories. Lin explained that Novonesis’ experience with bioactive ingredients and human milk oligosaccharides could help bridge the gap between food and pharmaceutical-level production.

“Novonesis is well established to achieve that with the current capabilities around human milk oligosaccharides, around other bioactives that are already in infant nutrition,” Lin said, according to AgFunderNews.

The agreement also seeks to improve manufacturing efficiency and reduce costs. While Novonesis brings global production capabilities, Mitsui Chemicals provides strategic support in Japan, one of the world’s largest markets for lactoferrin.

Beyond early-life nutrition, TurtleTree is expanding its focus into dietary supplements and women’s health, where the company sees opportunities due to lactoferrin’s connection with iron metabolism and immune-related benefits.

The startup currently operates mainly as a B2B supplier for brands developing nutrition products, although it has also launched a consumer-facing brand called Intentional, which offers TurtleTree’s lactoferrin in capsule form.

The company expects the partnership to strengthen supply consistency and provide health and wellness companies with a more reliable source of lactoferrin.

“This enables our customers to formulate with confidence and deliver meaningful benefits to the people who rely on these products every day,” Lin said, according to AgFunderNews.

The collaboration between TurtleTree and Novonesis reflects the growing interest in precision fermentation as a tool for producing high-value proteins and reducing dependence on traditional agricultural supply chains.