Moolec Science SA (NASDAQ: MLEC; “The company”), a Molecular Farming food-ingredient company, announced today that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (“APHIS”) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (“USDA”) has concluded its Regulatory Status Review (“RSR”) for Moolec’s genetically engineered (“GE”) soybean Piggy Sooy™.
The USDA-APHIS RSR determines that Moolec’s genetically engineered soybean, accumulating animal meat protein, is unlikely to pose an increased plant pest risk relative to non-engineered soybeans. Therefore, it is not subject to the APHIS regulation that governs the movement of organisms modified or produced through genetic engineering (as described in 7 CFR part 340).
This milestone reinforces Moolec’s B2B go-to-market strategy for Piggy Sooy™ product, an innovative, functional, and nutritious ingredient. By adding a well-known animal meat protein (porcine myoglobin) to the standard soybean proteins, the company expects to provide food manufacturers with a unique ingredient that will have a positive carbon and water footprint.
Martin Salinas, Chief of Technology & Co-Founder at Moolec, enthusiastically announced: “We believe this milestone sets the stage for a revolution in the foodindustrial biotech landscape, paving the way for expedited adoption of Molecular Farming technology by other industry players. Also, this compelling advancement signifies a stride in enhancing our operational efficiency, transforming our methods of raw material sourcing, and optimizing our downstream crushing and processing operations.”
In June 2023, the company announced that Piggy Sooy™ seeds had achieved high levels of expression of pork protein (up to 26.6% of the total soluble protein) and had patented their technology. The company clarifies that Piggy Sooy™ development is set to keep moving forward completing the necessary consultation with the United States Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”). Moolec declares to be engaged in the consultation process with the FDA, representing the next pivotal regulatory milestone preceding the commercial availability of Piggy Sooy™ ingredient.
