Singaporean precision fermentation company TurtleTree announces it has secured its first commercial partnership with the US company Cadence Cold Brew to launch a functional espresso under the brand Cadence Performance Coffee.
The companies have teamed up to introduce this innovative espresso shot range designed to improve athletic performance, featuring TurtleTree’s LF+ — the world’s first animal-free lactoferrin.
“With this partnership in place, we are validating that there is a need for Lactoferrin to be more accessible within the global supply chain”
The LF+ espresso shot will offer athletes a convenient way to access the benefits of lactoferrin, which supports iron regulation, immune function, and gut health. Moreover, the LF+ can help counteract the negative effects of caffeine on zinc and iron absorption, ensuring that the body still gets access to these important nutrients, explains the biotech.
This partnership comes only six months after TurtleTree obtained its self-GRAS status (generally recognized as safe) and a Vegan certification from Vegan Action for LF+.
Fengru Lin, CEO of TurtleTree, shares, “With this partnership in place, we are validating that there is a need for Lactoferrin to be more accessible within the global supply chain for audiences other than infants and that we as an organization now have the means to begin filling those gaps.”
Pink gold
With over 60% of the global lactoferrin supply currently allocated to infant nutrition, the collaboration will address the shortage of this essential protein for adult consumers. Iron deficiency affects many endurance sports athletes, hindering their peak performance and alleviating symptoms such as fatigue and weakness, explains TurtleTree.
Known as “pink gold” for its iron-rich pink hue and high value, lactoferrin retails between $700 to $1,500 per kg because it is difficult and expensive to source. But TurtleTree’s LF+ technology aims to scale up production of lactoferrin through precision fermentation, addressing the shortage and making it more accessible to new consumers in the adult nutrition market.
Meanwhile, according to TurtleTree, the Cadence team boasts years of experience delivering cutting-edge nutrition products, including the renowned deltaG ketone technology, to elite athletes, astronauts, high-stress executives, and military units.
Dan LaValley, founder of Cadence Performance Coffee, shares, “This collaboration signifies a commitment to health, sustainability, and innovation. This has been months in the making and we’re thrilled to bring this partnership to fruition.”
