Whey Waste Finds New Life as Protein

Paris-based start-up Standing Ovation’s patented process converts the serums supplied by Bel into functional casein proteins. The approach offers a sustainable alternative to conventional dairy supply chains. Bel hopes that, in addition to reducing waste and creating an additional valorisation stream, it will also promote a circular economy within the industry.

“Thanks to this process, which represents a breakthrough innovation for the entire dairy industry, we are optimizing the manufacture of dairy products by enabling manufacturers to reintegrate whey directly into their production cycle. This local and circular approach reduces losses and reinforces supply at source, a key issue for the future of the sector and the major challenges of food sovereignty in Europe and worldwide,” explains Romain Chayot, who co-founded the biotech start-up in 2020 and is today Scientific Director of Standing Ovation.

Caroline Sorlin, Bel Group’s Director of Investments and Collaborations with Startups, welcomed the partnership, which reaffirms Bel’s commitment to FoodTech. “Standing Ovation’s technology, combined with our cheese-making expertise, enables us to put this technological innovation into practice, opening up a whole new world of possibilities for imagining tomorrow’s recipes and products, combining nutritional quality, accessibility and responsibility,” Sorlin said.

This partnership comes amid a surge in collaborations and technological innovation across the alternative dairy sector, as companies increasingly turn to precision fermentation and other advanced methods to meet growing demand for sustainable, next-generation dairy products.

Standing Ovation entered into an exclusive collaboration with Bel Group in 2022. As part of the agreement, Bel acquired an equity stake in the Paris-based start-up, and the companies announced plans to incorporate casein milk proteins – produced using Standing Ovation’s precision fermentation technology – into Bel’s alternative cheese offerings. Now, the latest collaboration marks a significant step towards more sustainable resource management in the agri-food sector, with both companies aiming to accelerate the industrial application of this innovative technology and contribute to food sovereignty in Europe and beyond.