PoLoPo, an Israeli agrifood startup, has unveiled SuperAA, a novel molecular farming platform that can produce animal proteins within potato plants.

SuperAA has already deployed in potato plants at a greenhouse scale and uses metabolic engineering to convert potato plants into protein-producing micro-biofactories. It will produce ovalbumin and patanin as its first products, which offer various Food Tech applications, including developing plant-based eggs and dairy alternatives.

According to PoLoPo, potatoes were chosen for this system because they are adaptable to diverse climates, have low growth costs, mature quickly, yield a high amount of produce, and can be stored for long durations. Thus, they allow easily scalable, cost-effective, and sustainable operations.

Analyst QuickTake: Last year, PoLoPo raised USD 2.3 million in funding, including USD 1.75 million from a pre-seed round. The funds supported PoLoPo’s technology platform and expedited R&D work, enabling prototypes within 18 months, including protein-rich potato tubers and ovalbumin functional samples.