Moolec Science SA has confirmed the successful harvest of its U.S. campaigns for its genetically engineered products GLASO™ and Piggy Sooy™, marking a significant milestone in the company’s pursuit of advancing agricultural biotechnology and sustainable food production.
The GLASO™ campaign, based in Idaho, involves 600 acres of genetically modified safflower. This initiative aims to produce safflower seeds with high levels of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), a valuable compound with various health benefits. Moolec anticipates yielding between 300 to 400 tons of GLA-rich safflower seeds. To leverage this production, the company has secured an offtake agreement with a major global consumer packaged goods (CPG) company, targeting the U.S. market in 2025. Production is scheduled to commence in late 2024 following a successful audit by the CPG customer. GLASO™ stands out for its high GLA content, containing nearly three times more GLA than traditional sources such as borage and primrose oil, making it the most concentrated GLA oil on the market.
In addition to GLASO™, Moolec is advancing its Piggy Sooy™ project, which focuses on bioengineering soybean seeds to produce porcine myoglobin. Field trials for Piggy Sooy™ are underway in Ohio, Missouri, and Iowa, with the primary objectives being product development, seed increase, and collection of environmental and regulatory data. Moolec recently achieved a groundbreaking milestone by obtaining approval from the USDA-APHIS for the cultivation of these bioengineered soybeans, making it the first Molecular Farming company to secure such clearance for growing animal proteins in U.S. territory.
Chief Technology Officer and Co-Founder Martín Salinas highlighted the significance of these developments: “Our commitment to scaling Moolec’s Molecular Farming Technology is demonstrated by our GLASO™ campaign and the field trials of Piggy Sooy™. These efforts not only reinforce our position as pioneers in the industry but also lay the foundation for sustainable solutions in agriculture and biotechnology.”
Salinas emphasized the environmental benefits of Piggy Sooy™, noting that one acre of this bioengineered soybean could potentially produce pork meat proteins equivalent to those from 10 pigs, significantly reducing water usage, land footprint, and CO2 emissions. “This is a clear demonstration of how we promote environmental improvements throughout all our operations. Our aim is to heal the meat production system,” he concluded.
Moolec Science SA’s advances in molecular farming represent a significant step forward in both sustainable agriculture and innovative biotechnology, positioning the company at the forefront of the industry.
