Moolec Science Secures Core U.S. Patent for Piggy Sooy(TM), Soybean Expressing Up to 30% of Animal Protein

Rhea-AI Summary

Moolec Science (NASDAQ:MLEC) has secured a crucial U.S. patent for its Piggy Sooy™ technology, a groundbreaking soybean engineered to produce high levels of porcine hemeproteins in seeds. The patent, valid until 2042, covers plants, seeds, development methods, and derived food compositions. Initial field trials showed impressive results with over 20% animal protein content in the total soluble protein fraction. The technology demonstrates significant environmental advantages: one acre of Piggy Sooy™ can produce protein equivalent to 10 pigs while using 35x less land, 8x less water, and generating 60x less CO2 emissions. The USDA-APHIS has already confirmed the technology poses no additional plant pest risk compared to conventional soybeans, marking a key milestone toward commercialization. This patent is part of Moolec's broader strategy, with over fifteen global patent applications protecting their Molecular Farming innovations.

Positive

• Secured exclusive U.S. patent rights until 2042 for Piggy Sooy™ technology
• Achieved high protein expression levels of over 20% animal protein content in trials
• Significant environmental benefits: 35x less land use, 8x less water footprint, 60x less CO2 emissions
• Received USDA-APHIS confirmation of no additional plant pest risk
• Strong IP portfolio with fifteen additional global patent applications pending

Negative

• Technology still in development phase, not yet commercialized
• Long timeline to potential market entry
• Regulatory approvals still needed beyond USDA-APHIS clearance

Insights

Biotechnology Patent Analyst

Moolec secures groundbreaking U.S. patent for plant-based animal protein technology with exclusive rights until 2042, strengthening commercialization pathway.

This patent allowance represents a significant intellectual property milestone for Moolec's Molecular Farming platform. The USPTO grant covers not just the Piggy Sooy™ plants and seeds, but extends to the development methodology and resulting food compositions, creating a comprehensive protection barrier against competitors. With exclusive rights extending to 2042, Moolec has secured nearly two decades of market exclusivity in the U.S. for this technology.

The patent's scope is particularly impressive - it protects soybean plants expressing up to 30% porcine hemeproteins, a remarkably high expression level for transgenic plants. This efficiency makes the technology commercially viable at scale. The USDA-APHIS regulatory clearance in April 2024 removed a critical barrier to commercialization by confirming the product doesn't present plant pest risks.

Field trial results demonstrating 20% animal protein content in the soluble protein fraction validate the technical feasibility. The environmental metrics are equally compelling - producing equivalent protein to 10 pigs per acre while using 35x less land, 8x less water, and generating 60x less CO2.

This patent represents just the first of over fifteen global applications, suggesting a robust IP strategy that could create significant territorial barriers to entry. The company appears to be building a defensible patent portfolio around its Molecular Farming platform, essential for maintaining competitive advantage in the alternative protein space where intellectual property is a primary value driver.

WARWICK, GB / ACCESS Newswire / June 18, 2025 / Moolec Science Limited a wholly-owned subsidiary of Moolec Science SA (NASDAQ:MLEC; "The Company"; "Moolec"), a science-based food ingredient company focused on producing animal proteins and nutritional oils in plants, announced today that it has received a Notice of Allowance from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for its proprietary groundbreaking Piggy Sooy™ technology - soybean plant engineered to express high levels of porcine hemeproteins in their seeds.

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Piggy Sooy™ is the first patented soybean technology designed to produce high levels of porcine hemeproteins directly in the seeds. The U.S. patent covers the plants and seeds, the method used to develop them, and food compositions derived from this breakthrough innovation. In April 2024, the USDA-APHIS confirmed that Piggy Sooy™ does not present plant pest risk difference from conventional soybeans, determining it is not subject to regulation under 7 CFR part 340 - a key regulatory milestone toward commercialization.

Moolec's Chief Science Officer, Amit Dhingra, stated: "Initial field trials demonstrated promising production yield, with over 20% animal protein content in the total soluble protein fraction. Furthermore, the deployment of Piggy Sooy™ technology presents compelling environmental benefits when compared to traditional agricultural and meat production practices. One acre of Piggy Sooy™ has the potential capacity to produce the same amount of protein as approximately 10 pigs, using ~35x less land, generating ~8x less water footprint and ~60x less CO₂ emissions. These multifaceted benefits make Piggy Sooy™ a game-changer in sustainable protein production."

This patent provides Moolec with exclusive commercial rights to Piggy Sooy™ technology in the U.S. until 2042, significantly strengthening the Company's intellectual property portfolio. This is the first in a series of over fifteen patent applications filed globally aimed at protecting Moolec's Molecular Farming innovations.

"Our experience has taught us that long-term success in biotechnology is built on securing robust, enforceable intellectual property. This patent validates Moolec's scientific leadership in Molecular Farming and protects a technology with unprecedented levels of animal protein expression in plants. It's not only a recognition of our innovation, but a vital asset that allows us to advance confidently toward commercialization and build a differentiated position in our food and feed ingredients business," said Alejandro Antalich, CEO of Moolec Science.

Contact Information

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comms@moolecscience.com

Investor Relations
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SOURCE: Moolec Science

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire

FAQ

What is Moolec Science's (MLEC) Piggy Sooy™ technology?

Piggy Sooy™ is a patented soybean technology engineered to produce high levels of porcine hemeproteins directly in seeds, achieving over 20% animal protein content in the total soluble protein fraction.

How long is Moolec's patent protection for Piggy Sooy™?

Moolec has secured exclusive commercial rights to Piggy Sooy™ technology in the U.S. until 2042.

What are the environmental benefits of Piggy Sooy™?

One acre of Piggy Sooy™ can produce protein equivalent to 10 pigs while using 35x less land, 8x less water footprint, and generating 60x less CO2 emissions compared to traditional methods.

Has Piggy Sooy™ received regulatory approval?

USDA-APHIS has confirmed Piggy Sooy™ poses no additional plant pest risk compared to conventional soybeans, but additional regulatory approvals may be needed for commercialization.

What is the current development status of MLEC's Piggy Sooy™?

The technology has completed initial field trials and secured patent protection, but is still in development phase moving toward commercialization.