Plants May Soon Provide Essential Nutrients Found in Breast Milk

Genetically engineered plants could soon produce human milk sugars, making infant formula healthier and more affordable.

Approximately 75% of babies drink infant formula during their first six months, either exclusively or as a supplement to breastfeeding. While these formulas provide essential nutrients, they lack the roughly 200 prebiotic sugar molecules found in human breast milk, which are key to preventing diseases and fostering healthy gut bacteria. Since most of these sugars are difficult to synthesize, current formulas fail to replicate breast milk’s complete nutritional profile.