Tetra Pak to Help Standing Ovation Bring Fermented Caseins to Market

Courtesy: Standing Ovation

French precision fermentation specialist Standing Ovation has announced a new partnership with global food processing and packaging leader Tetra Pak, marking a significant step toward scaling the production of animal-free caseins. The collaboration is set to optimise the industrial processes behind Standing Ovation’s alternative casein ingredients, which are developed using precision fermentation rather than traditional animal agriculture.

Based in Paris, Standing Ovation has made considerable strides over the past year. Earlier this month, the company and Bel Group disclosed a new partnership to explore ways to transform acid whey, a cheese production byproduct, into valuable casein proteins. It also recently signed an agreement with Ajinomoto Foods Europe, securing support to advance its production capabilities. The new alliance with Tetra Pak adds a crucial dimension to these efforts, focusing squarely on the technical and industrial side of scaling.

Under the terms of the agreement, Standing Ovation and Tetra Pak will work together to optimise the downstream separation and purification of animal-free caseins. The partnership also covers the supply of specialised equipment and the development of turnkey solutions tailored to Standing Ovation’s proprietary technology. Tetra Pak’s role extends to the design and construction of both pilot and large-scale industrial units, setting the stage for Standing Ovation’s transition from laboratory innovation to commercial manufacturing.

Central to the collaboration is the goal of bringing to market Standing Ovation’s flagship product, Advanced Casein. This new ingredient seeks to offer a sustainable alternative to traditional animal-derived caseins, key proteins that provide structure and functionality to a wide range of dairy products, from cheese to yogurt. By producing these proteins through precision fermentation, Standing Ovation aims to deliver products that are identical to their animal-based counterparts, but with a significantly lower environmental footprint.

Yvan Chardonnens, CEO of Standing Ovation, called the partnership with Tetra Pak “a major step forward” for the company’s industrial ambitions. “Their expertise in engineering and food processes will enable us to optimise our production capacities and accelerate the time-to-market for our fermented casein,” Chardonnens said, highlighting the value Tetra Pak brings to the table in terms of scaling technologies and operational know-how.

From Tetra Pak’s side, the partnership aligns with its broader ambitions to support emerging sectors within the food industry, including alternative proteins and precision fermentation. Rafael Barros, director of the New Food business stream at Tetra Pak, emphasised the challenges involved in making precision fermentation economically viable at scale. “Precision fermentation is revolutionising the production of vital ingredients to nourish a growing population, but industrial production poses efficiency and profitability challenges,” he said. “At Tetra Pak, we work with our customers on process design, upscaling, and equipment planning to support their growth objectives. We look forward to this journey with Standing Ovation.”

The announcement adds momentum to a growing movement within the food industry aimed at decoupling key ingredients from traditional livestock production. As concerns about climate change, food security, and resource efficiency intensify, partnerships like this one illustrate how established technology providers and innovative start-ups are coming together to build the foundations of a more resilient and sustainable food system.

As Standing Ovation moves closer to launching Advanced Casein, the collaboration with Tetra Pak is expected to significantly ease the path to industrial readiness, offering a model for how precision fermentation companies can navigate the complex challenges of scaling new food technologies.