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Those Vegan Cowboys bring Hochland inside
Those Vegan Cowboys (TVC), producer of completely plant-based cheese alternatives, has entered into an agreement with the German Hochland Group to use plant-based casein in cheeses. This was announced by both companies. Hochland will start production this year. Earlier, Westland Kaas also entered into an agreement with TVC.
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According to CEO Hille van der Kaa of TVC, the German dairy company has been conducting tests with TVC's casein for a year. This casein is produced using a micro-fermentation process. Sugar is currently used as a raw material, but the plan is to eventually feed the yeasts with grass, in order to become a complete replacement for cows. That is not yet possible.
According to TVC, their casein nevertheless shows better functionality under certain conditions than the cow casein currently used in cheese. Van der Kaa: "Our partners reported better melting quality and stretch than the animal-based version, which means that cheese producers can use less casein with the same result. This will ultimately lower the price of cheese." Casein is a functional ingredient for cheese. It is not a flavor carrier. Flavor must come from other ingredients, such as fat.
Hochland also sees a lot of potential, says Sarah Borg, responsible for innovations at the dairy company: "We are excited to test this innovation of a key cheese ingredient in new products. With a growing population in mind, casein made by precision fermentation can really make a difference."
Products with TVC's casein are scheduled to be marketed this year. Not yet in Europe, but in the US, where the approval procedure for novel foods is faster. Asian markets will follow. European approval may take another three to four years, but Dutch consumers will be able to participate in a tasting later this year. This is possible thanks to a motion introduced by the VVD, which was supported by a majority of the Lower House and which was adopted by the Minister (of Public Health), Van der Kaa knows.
The first cheese company to join forces with TVC is Westland Cheese, known for Old Amsterdam and Maaslander, among others. The plant-based cheese line WildWestLand was launched in 2020 via a joint venture. This is available in a number of Dutch and Belgian supermarkets.
Those Vegan Cowboys was founded in 2019 by organic arable farmer Jaap Korteweg and marketing man, activist and senator for the Party for the Animals Niko Koffeman.