Those Vegan Cowboys wins €1.3M grant for cow-free sports nutrition
What's the deal? Those Vegan Cowboys has secured €1.3 million in public funding to develop protein-rich sports nutrition products based on precision fermentation casein. The grant, worth €1,290,186, anchors a €2.58 million consortium project with InterfoodDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, HAS green academyDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, and XXL NutritionDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →.
Who's paying? The subsidy comes through the OPZuid programDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, backed by the European Regional Development Fund, the Dutch governmentDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, and the province of North Brabant. Contributions from the four partners make up the rest of the total budget.
What's the endgame? Those Vegan Cowboys produces casein — a principal milk protein — using microorganisms rather than extracting it from cow's milk. The company will use the project to scale production and study how the ingredient performs in finished foods, with the consortium developing high-protein prototypes for the sports nutrition market.
"With our stainless steel cow Margaret, we're showing that casein can be made without animals too," said Hille van der Kaa, chief executive officer of Those Vegan Cowboys. "The next step is translating that protein into products people actually want to use: nutritious, tasty and affordable."
Who does what? Interfood contributes dairy protein expertise and a proving ground for testing; XXL Nutrition brings sports nutrition experience and consumer insight; HAS green academy provides practice-based research. The project runs until March 31, 2028, and will examine technical performance, product development, and consumer acceptance.
Why now? Demand is the driver. "Global demand for protein is growing faster than supply," said Wouter Berendsen, global R&D director at Interfood, framing the consortium as building capabilities the industry will need.
The signal: Grant money — not venture capital — is underwriting Europe's precision fermentation push, tying regional development funds to food security goals. The bet is that lab-made dairy proteins can move from proof of concept to products consumers will buy.
Read more: proteinproductiontechnology.com
Image credit: Those Vegan Cowboys
