Opalia Foods

Opalia (known as Bettermilk prior to February 2022) is the first Canadian company to produce whole milk using bovine mammary epithelial cells.

Its patent-pending technology involves feeding nutrients to mammary cells, populating the cells, and then customizing the concentration of proteins and fats to produce the desired specification of milk. In March 2022 , Opalia announced the replacement of its cell growth substrate “fetal bovine serum” (FBS) with an animal-free alternative, bringing it closer to commercialization. The startup claimed that its animal-free milk contains all the functional components of conventional milk including the six main proteins (two whey proteins and four casein proteins) and milk fats. Following production benchmarks in July 2022 , the company could be ready for market launch of its milk by 2024 pending regulatory approval.

As of March 2022, Opalia was in its R&D phase, with plans to collaborate with companies using milk as an ingredient to expand its product range from food to cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.

Funding and financials

In March 2024, Opalia secured a CAD 2 million (~USD 1.5 million) investment led by Hoogwegt Group, with participation from Ahimsa Foundation, Box One Ventures, and others. The new funds were earmarked for accelerating the development of Opalia's debut product and establishing a viable commercial strategy. The company also received additional funding through Natural Products Canada's Proof of Concept program.