Story perspectives

Engineered safflower seeds produce dairy ?-casein protein cheaply

8/16/2026

Summary

Story summary

Prof. Oded Shoseyov of Hebrew University engineered plant seeds to produce dairy ?-casein.
The team fused ?-casein to oleosin, directing it to several compartments where it stored unexpectedly.
After testing in Arabidopsis, the construct was moved to safflower, whose seeds hold about ten times more protein and fat than milk.
Plant-derived ?-casein matches dairy ?-casein, can be produced up to 100 times cheaper, and may be commercial within 18–24 months.

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Story summary

Prof. Oded Shoseyov of Hebrew University engineered plant seeds to produce dairy ?-casein.
The team fused ?-casein to oleosin, directing it to several compartments where it stored unexpectedly.
After testing in Arabidopsis, the construct was moved to safflower, whose seeds hold about ten times more protein and fat than milk.
Plant-derived ?-casein matches dairy ?-casein, can be produced up to 100 times cheaper, and may be commercial within 18–24 months.