Globally, most of the 130 million babies born each year consume infant formula at some point in their first months of life. Approximately 50% of mothers perceive that their milk production is insufficient, and three out of five infants do not receive breast milk in their first hour of life. This is a reality that Harmony Baby Nutrition, a startup that uses biotechnology to create a breast milk formula, is combating.
For decades, the alternatives for these children and their families have been limited, unpleasant tasting and with a nutritional composition barely comparable to breast milk. This gap not only represents a daily challenge for millions of parents, but has profound implications for infants’ long-term health.
According to scientists, the first 1,000 days of life largely determine how a person’s body will develop, repair and age. Poor nutrition at this stage can alter the development of vital organs and increase the risk of chronic diseases in adulthood, such as type 2 diabetes, obesity and coronary heart disease.
Faced with this challenge, the Brazilian startup Harmony Baby Nutrition, a biotech based at MIT, is not only creating a hypoallergenic infant formula, but is also redefining the scientific standard in the sector. Its innovation lies in having achieved a composition 50% similar to human milk, a monumental leap from the 3% of conventional formulas.
“This is my second venture into infant nutrition, and my motivation has always been deeply personal, rooted in the real struggles faced by babies and families,” founder and CEO Wendel Afonso told Contxto. The inspiration was born from two experiences: the first was during his time as a researcher, when Afonso met a little girl with phenylketonuria (PKU) who was celebrating being able to eat a banana for the first time. “For these children, common sources of protein can cause severe brain damage. Watching her celebrate something so simple … was sobering and heartbreaking.”
The second experience was at home: “When my daughter Ana was diagnosed with a cow’s milk protein allergy, I experienced firsthand how limited and unpleasant the existing formula options were. I knew we could do better. That science could create something that not only met nutritional needs, but brought comfort and joy.”
Brazil’s support for a global challenge
Harmony’s commitment has just received a strategic boost that will allow it to scale to other markets. The startup was selected to receive R$31.8 million (approximately US$5.8 million) in a public call from Brazil’s National Development Bank (BNDES) and the Brazilian Innovation Agency (Finep). This capital injection is part of the Nova Indústria Brasil industrial policy, which has earmarked R$3 billion to boost national innovation.
The funds are specifically destined to establishing a Research and Development Center in Belo Horizonte, which will focus on developing infant formulas inspired by human milk through precision fermentation processes.
“The funds will be used to scale up production for our first commercial launch and to build the commercial infrastructure needed to reach families who rely on products like ours,” Afonso detailed.
“So far, our team has been comprised primarily of scientists focused on R&D. As we transition from development to market entry, we need to expand our capabilities in manufacturing, quality, marketing and customer support,” added the CEO.
More than a formula: a technology platform
The company conceives its evolution in three technological generations. Gen 1, which includes its first product Melodi (a specialized formula for toddlers), has already demonstrated 61% higher sensory preference than standard hypoallergenic products. It is designed for allergic and sensitive children.
Gen 2 will introduce human milk proteins produced by fermentation to the market for the first time, bringing it even closer to the functional biology of breast milk, and finally Gen 3 will seek the holy grail: completely replacing cow’s milk proteins with human-identical proteins, making complete infant nutrition possible without relying on animal husbandry.
This breakthrough is not only nutritional, but also environmental. Cow’s milk production makes up more than 80% of the carbon footprint of conventional infant formulas. “By replacing part of those dairy ingredients with biotechnology-produced components, we already see a significant reduction in emissions and water use,” said Afonso. The long-term goal is to halve the sector’s environmental footprint.
Harmony’s work is part of a broader revolution in the science of longevity, which has shifted the focus from how long we live to how we live. The scientific evidence is compelling: the foundation for a long and healthy life is built in the first 1,000 days. Optimal nutrition at this stage lays the metabolic, cognitive and immunological foundation for a lifetime.
That’s why the market is shifting toward proactive prevention. Already, 60% of consumers consider healthy aging a “top” or “very important” priority, according to McKinsey. And this demand is catalyzing parallel innovations, such as those from Tiny Health, which offers home testing of the infant microbiome to detect imbalances years before symptoms appear, or Sun Genomics, which creates customized probiotics based on each person’s unique gut profile.
“Bringing a clinically sensitive product to market always comes with layers of regulation, and rightly so,” said Afonso, acknowledging the long road ahead, with launches planned for Brazil in 2027 and international expansion in 2028. “But the key is preparation. We have built our processes from day one with global standards in mind.”
In the end, the vision is simple but powerful: to bridge the gap between breast milk and affordable infant nutrition, demonstrating that cutting-edge science and sustainability are not a luxury, but a basic necessity for the next generations. It’s not about replacing Mother Nature, but honoring her design with the tools of the future.
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