Remilk: Dairy Alternative Made With Microbe Fermentation by Israeli Startup

26th November 2020

The Indian Market

With plant-based eating taking over the mainstream, meat and dairy alternatives have found a growing market. Alternatives to dairy products have mostly been plant-based milks, such as oat, soy, almond, rice, and coconut milk, among others. As sustainable plant-based diets become more popular in India, the plant milk industry is expected to be valued at a whopping $63.9 million by 2024 - a big jump from a mere $20.9 million in 2018. According to Times of India, the global dairy alternative market, which was at $16.13 billion in 2019, is predicted to reach $41.06 billion by 2025 at a 16.7% CAGR.

New Innovations In The Alt Dairy Sector

As dairy alternatives gain popularity, new innovations gain momentum. In 2019, two Israeli scientists, Aviv Wolff and Ori Cohavi came up with Remilk, a milk alternative made from the same process of fermentation of microbes that are found in cow’s milk, without requiring an actual animal in the process. The product differs from the vegan staple plant-based milks, and aims to become the primary dairy alternative by retaining the similarities to cow’s milk.

Source: Remilk

Why Re-Invent Milk?

Remilk aims to not lose the essence of dairy, while also being sustainable in its production. The dairy industry causes immense damage to the environment due to an excessive use of resources and is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. The production of one glass of milk requires approximately 255 litres of water and a cattle animal produces 250 to 500 liters of methane each day. With the urgency to tackle climate change a more sustainable option is necessary. According to Wolff, Remilk can be the answer.

Source: BBC

The purpose of Remilk is to replace cow’s milk with a product which is similar in taste and texture, but does not harm the environment, animals, and our health. Wolff believes that plant milks are not cow milk replacements, and instead calls them “water alternatives”. He says that Remilk can be a more appropriate milk alternative as it tastes and behaves similar to dairy, which means that it can be used to make dairy products like cheese and butter with the same taste and texture - something that might not be possible with many plant milks.

“Remilk is producing real dairy products without needing a single cow. We love milk, but using animals to make our food is as primitive as starting a fire with stones. So we teamed up with technology to reshape dairy products without compromising on deliciousness.” 

Is it Remilk Vegan?

The product is made from a microbe found in a cow, so the question is, will it still be considered an animal product? It is certain than no animals are actually involved in the process of production, and thus it can be preferable to those who wish to avoid animal cruelty, as well as those who wish to reduce their environmental impact. However, being derived from an animal, some might still prefer staple plant milks like oat and soy over this alternative. But being similar to dairy milk, it is possible that dairy consumers will find it easier to switch to Remilk, and it can certainly be a great step towards sustainability.

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