Grow your own milk: Israeli scientists engineer plants to create key dairy protein
The team at Hebrew University worked out how to derive beta-casein, which gives cheese its melting properties, which they say could eradicate the need for industrialised livestock farming
Assessment
Israeli researchers have genetically engineered plants to produce beta-casein, a dairy protein essential for cheese's texture and melt. This breakthrough could reshape the dairy industry by removing the need for cows entirely. If scaled, it offers a path to industrial milk production without animal agriculture. Watch for regulatory hurdles and whether plant grown dairy can match traditional milk's taste and cost.