The Future of Artisanal Cheese Is Here - And It’s Sustainable, Delicious, and Vegan

EAT

Jan 13

California-based company Climax already won the largest-ever seed raise for a food tech startup, and now their next-level cheeses are set to take on the $800 billion dairy market.

A California-based food tech startup has introduced what it calls a “zero-compromise” range of cheeses that are entirely plant-based - but taste and look like the real thing.

As the climate crisis continues to impact and change our world, attention has turned to industries with high carbon footprints. The dairy industry, in particular, generates over 1,700 million tonnes of CO2, which is around 3.4 percent of the world’s total annual footprint. To put that in perspective, dairy’s emissions are more than the global aviation industry (responsible for 1.9 percent) and the shipping industry (1.7 percent).

That’s led to a huge wave of innovation and investment from big brands and food-tech startups who are working towards more sustainable versions of popular food options. There’s delicious nut-based cheeses like Miyoko’s Creamery available in supermarkets now, and even dairy-giants like Bel Group have launched plant-based versions of iconic products like babybels, boursin spread, and The Laughing Cow cheese wheels.

Now, Californian food-tech start-up Climax is the latest company to take on the $800 billion dairy industry, as it unveils its range of incredible-looking artisanal cheeses.

"Cows have made our milk for thousands of years. However, less than 10% of the plants they eat get turned into food for humans, which has led to significant environmental and health problems in today’s much more crowded world,” explains Climax founder and CEO, Dr. Oliver Zahn.

The company’s team of 40 scientists have used data science and cutting-edge laboratories to create a database of plant ingredients, sourced from thousands of edible plants. By pulling info from these “digital recipes”, Climax says it can unlock the flavor potential of plants and open countless doorways into new ways of producing food.

And if its first-look at their cheeses is anything to go by, then their method has unlimited potential. Not only do the cheeses look incredible, but they are not heavily processed, and rely instead on using non-allergenic ingredients such as seeds, legumes and plant oils.

“It is human nature to rethink ancient practices, so we came up with a smarter way”, adds Zhan, who has previously worked as a data scientist for Google and SpaceX. “By using data science to accelerate plant-based ingredient and process discoveries, we are saving thousands of years of tinkering to create products that are just as tasty as the cow-based predecessors without the downsides, today.”

Climax’s “moonshot” cheeses include four varieties: cultured and aged Blue, Brie, Feta, and Chèvre. All four are made with sustainably grown plant ingredients, while matching the taste, nutrition, and price of dairy cheeses.

You’ll have to wait just a bit longer to sample the Moonshot cheeses, though, as Climax has said its first distribution is set to launch early 2023. Keep an eye on their website for upcoming news, but in the meantime, you can find popular plant-based cheeses including Miyoko’s Creamery, Daiya, and plant-based Babybel in grocery stores like Target.

What We Eat Matters: Dairy

Cows are mammals, and just like us, they produce milk to nourish their young. A female cow in the dairy industry is repeatedly inseminated to ensure that she is continuously producing milk. Within hours of giving birth, her calf will typically be removed so that her milk can be taken and sold to humans instead.

In addition to animal cruelty, the environmental impact of animal agriculture is devastating and responsible for more greenhouse gas emissions than any other food sector. The dairy industry alone contributes around 3.4 percent of all human-induced GHG emissions. It also contributes significantly to soil degradation and deforestation and pollutes air and water.

Our choices matter to animals. Do you think you could embrace plant-based living for 7 days? We do. Sign up for the Species Unite 7-Day Vegan Challenge to discover a whole new world, from recipes that will trick your most carnivorous friends to shoes, boots, and bags made from some of the most magical plants on the planet. Take part here!

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