Pension fund ABP invests money in coolless lactoferrin

Vivici was founded in 2022 by DSM-Firmenich and Fonterra and is supported by the stimulus fund Invest-NL and the regional fund Innovation Quarter. The Oegstgeest-based company is mainly concerned with developing knowledge and technology to produce whey from vegetable raw materials. In recent years, various companies in Europe have experimented with this, according to CEO Stephan van Sint Fiet.  

Vivici initially focused on the production of beta-lactoglobulin, an important protein that is also found in whey. However, it also sees good opportunities in producing lactoferrin, a substance that is only found in very small quantities in cow's milk (and goat's and sheep's milk) and that is particularly effective in increasing resistance to pathogens. Lactoferrin from cow's milk is widely used in infant nutrition, among other things, and is an extremely expensive ingredient. In recent years, it has been traded for prices between roughly €500 and €1.500 per kilo. Lactoferrin is also an important profit maker for companies such as FrieslandCampina.

There is still a long way to go before plant-based lactoferrin can be brought to market in larger quantities and at competitive prices, but for Vivici, the high price of lactoferrin makes it an attractive target to focus on, says Van Sint Fiet.

The ABP wants to invest in Vivici because it wants to reduce the pressure on the climate and also wants to take responsibility for healthy living. "Proteins are important building blocks for our body. They ensure the growth and maintenance of muscles and body cells. Meat and dairy contain a lot of proteins. But keeping livestock for the production of these substances takes up an increasingly large part of the land surface. It causes pollution and loss of nature and biodiversity. In 2050, there will be almost 10 billion people on earth. The ever-increasing demand for proteins will increase these problems," the company reports. on his website.