TurtleTree Moves HQ to Netherlands, Partners On Animal‑Free Lactoferrin

Precision fermentation company TurtleTree relocates its global headquarters to the Netherlands and signs a multi‑year research partnership with NIZO to develop LF+, an animal‑free lactoferrin for women’s health, focusing on healthy aging and menopause.

TurtleTree is moving its global headquarters to the Netherlands and has signed a research partnership with NIZO to develop its animal-free lactoferrin, LF+. The company, founded in Singapore, is focusing on women’s health, particularly healthy aging and menopause. Under the agreement, a dedicated NIZO team will work with TurtleTree on clinical studies, health-claim substantiation and product formulation. The program will operate from the Food Innovation Park in Ede, in the Dutch Food Valley region. NIZO says the park houses Europe’s largest independent food-grade pilot facilities. The arrangement gives TurtleTree access to an established scientific team in Europe without having to set up its own research site first. Fengru Lin, Founder and CEO of TurtleTree, said the partnership lets them push LF+ development further and faster in women’s health. She added that the Netherlands provides the science, infrastructure and access to the European market needed to move at the pace this category demands. NIZO is using the deal to open its contract research model to scale-ups as well as large companies. Nikolaas Vles, CEO of NIZO, said they want to make their scientific capabilities accessible to the most ambitious innovators. He described TurtleTree as exactly the kind of partner this model is built for. Two Dutch agencies supported TurtleTree’s relocation: Oost NL, the regional development agency for East Netherlands, and the Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency (NFIA). Hilde van der Meer, Commissioner at NFIA, said the Netherlands offers international companies a strong combination of scientific expertise, research infrastructure and access to the European market. TurtleTree received a “No Questions” letter from the US FDA for LF+ in May 2025. This was the first time anywhere that precision-fermented lactoferrin received this kind of regulatory validation. The company said regulatory submissions were underway in Europe and Asia. Financial terms of the NIZO partnership were not disclosed.

Read source: Cultivated X