Moolec Science Achieves Breakthrough in Molecular Farming

Company successfully expresses bovine myoglobin in pea seeds, expanding its protein production platform.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 1:08pm

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A highly structured abstract painting in soft, earthy tones featuring sweeping geometric arcs, concentric circles, and precise botanical spirals, conceptually representing the complex molecular processes involved in Moolec's breakthrough production of bovine myoglobin in pea seeds.Moolec's innovative molecular farming platform unlocks new possibilities for sustainable and scalable protein production.Warwick Today

Moolec Science, a subsidiary of Moolec Science SA, has announced a significant scientific breakthrough in the production of animal proteins in plants. Through a sponsored research project with a leading U.S. academic institution, the company has successfully demonstrated the stable expression of bovine myoglobin, a heme-containing protein, within the seeds of the common pea. This milestone represents the first reported case of producing bovine myoglobin in pea seeds, marking a major expansion of Moolec's molecular farming platform beyond its current crop base.

Why it matters

Moolec's ability to produce animal-derived proteins in plant-based systems like pea seeds could unlock new opportunities for scalable and sustainable protein production. Pea is a globally relevant, protein-rich crop with established supply chains, making it an attractive platform for the company's technology. This breakthrough reinforces Moolec's position as an innovator in the alternative protein space, capable of continuously expanding its capabilities to meet the growing demand for plant-based and animal-free ingredients.

The details

The 28-month research project successfully demonstrated stable expression of bovine myoglobin across generations, confirming reproducibility and genetic stability. This achievement also validates the flexibility of Moolec's proprietary constructs, allowing the company to deploy its technology in a new legume crop. By establishing pea seeds as a viable production system for high-value recombinant proteins, Moolec has unlocked new pathways for scalable protein production.

  • The research project was conducted over a 28-month period.
  • The results were announced on April 7, 2026.

The players

Moolec Science Limited

A wholly owned subsidiary of Moolec Science SA, an innovation-driven company engineering plants and microbes to unlock scalable protein solutions for the global food industry.

Moolec Science SA

The parent company of Moolec Science Limited, publicly listed on Nasdaq under the ticker 'MLEC'.

Alejandro Antalich

The CEO of Moolec Science.

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What they’re saying

“This is not just a scientific milestone; it is a clear signal of the scalability and versatility of our platform. Successfully expressing a heme protein in pea is a powerful validation of our ability to expand our technology across crops and product categories. This is how we build a pipeline, not just a product, and how we translate innovation into long-term, scalable value for our shareholders.”

— Alejandro Antalich, CEO of Moolec Science

What’s next

Moolec plans to further develop its molecular farming platform and explore additional applications for its technology in the production of animal-derived proteins and other high-value ingredients.

The takeaway

Moolec's breakthrough in expressing bovine myoglobin in pea seeds demonstrates the company's ability to expand its innovative molecular farming technology across diverse crop systems, positioning it as a leader in the development of sustainable and scalable protein solutions for the global food industry.