News
- German Government to boost alternative proteins with €38m investmentIn its 2024 budget, the German Government has allocated €38m for the promotion of precision-fermented, plant-based and cultivated meat and dairy alternatives. However, the majority of the funding, some €20m, will be devoted to phasing out animal husbandry, instead promoting the transition towards the production of cultivated, fermented and plant-based… Read more: German Government to boost alternative proteins with €38m investment
- Food Tech Congress 2024 – May 29 – 30, 2024 Warsaw, Poland 🗓The annual Food Tech Congress is where innovation thrives, bold ideas spark and business gets done. In two action-packed days, we host the most prominent food tech entrepreneurs, innovators, investors, and government leaders from all around the globe to solve the pressing challenges of the industry. Source: Food Tech Congress… Read more: Food Tech Congress 2024 – May 29 – 30, 2024 Warsaw, Poland 🗓
- ESA explores cultivated meat for space foodTheir primary goal was to determine whether cultivated meat, i.e. growing meat in bioreactors using real animal cells, is a viable option for space, as a protein food source that can be produced in-situ. Over the past year, the selected teams, one made up of the German company yuri and… Read more: ESA explores cultivated meat for space food
- Naturally & Genetically Improved Food & Agri Products and Regulatory Realities – Wednesday, November 29th 2023 – 2:00 PM (CET) 🗓Many food and agricultural products can be improved on a genetic level, which is called trait development. Traits in the raw materials can improve the nutrition, production efficiency, and yield of the final product. Many tools exist to improve raw materials both naturally and through GMO technologies. Each tool and… Read more: Naturally & Genetically Improved Food & Agri Products and Regulatory Realities – Wednesday, November 29th 2023 – 2:00 PM (CET) 🗓
- Protein Diversification Think Tank Policy Brief on Accelerating Protein Diversification for EuropeAccelerating Protein Diversification for Europe is a policy brief on protein diversification, presenting a summary of policy recommendations aimed at accelerating progress towards a transformative shift in how we produce and consume protein. It has been developed by the EIT Food Protein Diversification Think Tank in consultation with experts and… Read more: Protein Diversification Think Tank Policy Brief on Accelerating Protein Diversification for Europe
- Cultivated meat needs a trillion-dollar Biden moonshotou know things are hot when celebrities are signing term sheets. While helpful, it’s not their money that’s propping up the food-tech ecosystem. So the question here is this: Do VCs have the fortitude to continue supporting the more than 150 startups seeking to design a cell-cultured analogue to cheap… Read more: Cultivated meat needs a trillion-dollar Biden moonshot
- Top stories in Cultivated Meat – October 2023The cultivated meat sector is active in October 2023, marking a series of groundbreaking developments that could redefine our food landscape. Here’s a closer look at the pivotal moments and insights from the month that could shape the trajectory of sustainable and ethical food production. Perception has been a significant… Read more: Top stories in Cultivated Meat – October 2023
- Editor’s choice: Let’s stop making lab-grown meat weird“Perception is a major concern when trying to introduce the public to new foods,” he writes in a piece for New Scientist. “We really need to sell people on cell-cultivated meat.” But when Vow unveils a Mammoth meatball or The Atlantic writes about “unicorn meat,” however unseriously or PR-stunty, the… Read more: Editor’s choice: Let’s stop making lab-grown meat weird
- What is cultivated meat?Cultivated meat is produced when cells are taken from an animal and put in a bioreactor to replicate. The resulting muscle and fat cells are then formed into familiar formats, such as a steak or chicken nugget, usually using plant protein to add structure. (Eat Just’s chicken sold in Singapore,… Read more: What is cultivated meat?
- Cargill’s alt-protein chief answers Food Dive’s 8 questionsGlobal protein consumption will continue to grow. Filling that demand will take animal, plant-based, fermentation-derived, cultivated, hybrids and perhaps even innovations still to come. It represents a huge challenge, but one that I believe our industry will meet. Source: Cargill’s alt-protein chief answers Food Dive’s 8 questions | Food Dive
- What Is Hybrid Meat And How Does It Differ From Plant-Based Varieties?However, despite the fact that the U.S. will most definitely be seeing more cultivated meat products in the future, the harsh truth is that lab-grown meat production is still too expensive to be viable from a consumer perspective. Combining it with plant-based alternatives not only helps lower the price but… Read more: What Is Hybrid Meat And How Does It Differ From Plant-Based Varieties?
- EIT Food The Future of Food Conference 2023 – 26 October – Brussels 🗓EIT Food’s 2023 flagship conference will be the last before institutional change at European level in 2024. It provides a unique opportunity for the largest food community in the world to inspire lawmakers, by sharing evidence-based insights, business cases, and concrete recommendations on how, together, we can make change happen… Read more: EIT Food The Future of Food Conference 2023 – 26 October – Brussels 🗓
- Catalonia invest €7 million in CiPA hub to lead alternative protein science in Southern Europe – GFI EuropeThe Catalan Government have announced a €7 million research centre to help companies develop sustainable ways of making meat. The Center for Innovation in Alternative Proteins (CiPA), based across various sites throughout the region, has been funded by the Department of Climate Action, Food and Rural Agenda of the Generalitat… Read more: Catalonia invest €7 million in CiPA hub to lead alternative protein science in Southern Europe – GFI Europe
- Lab to table: The promise and the perils of cell-cultured chickenThe risk — for companies and for investors — is that there is no track record for such facilities, no history of using 100,000-liter bioreactors, which could be hard to keep clean and even harder to grow cells in. “You can break ground on a lot of facilities before you… Read more: Lab to table: The promise and the perils of cell-cultured chicken
- When Will You Eat Your First Burger Made From Cultivated Meat?As cultivated meat continues to attract attention amid record-setting investments and regulatory approval, questions about its long-term viability are on the rise. Is lab-grown meat really coming to your plate soon? Source: When Will You Eat Your First Burger Made From Cultivated Meat?– Ethos
Compagnies and key players
- OMEAT completes construction of pilot plant in its steady march to scale upThe 15,000-square-foot pilot plant, located outside of Los Angeles, California, is designed to house bioreactors up to 10,000L in size and has the capacity to produce up to 400 tons of product annually. The new facility is part of Omeat’s unique vertically integrated approach. Source: OMEAT COMPLETES CONSTRUCTION OF PILOT… Read more: OMEAT completes construction of pilot plant in its steady march to scale up
- Cultivated meat leader Meatabe opens new pilot facility in Leiden to scale cultivated pork developmentThe new Leiden facility has opened following Meatable’s $35M Series B round in the summer and marks an important step towards commercializing its cultivated pork products. Its location in the University area of Leiden ensures proximity to expert knowledge and state-of-the-art facilities. This will help Meatable expand its development capacity… Read more: Cultivated meat leader Meatabe opens new pilot facility in Leiden to scale cultivated pork development
- Bene Meat Technologies Receives First-Ever EU Approval for Cultivated Meat for Pet FoodIt was only this January that the startup announced it was developing animal cell lines to produce cultivated meat ingredients for the pet food industry. Nonetheless, today, BMT announces that it has received a license from the European Feed Materials Register to commercialise its products. This organization oversees the authorization… Read more: Bene Meat Technologies Receives First-Ever EU Approval for Cultivated Meat for Pet Food
- Triplebar raises $20m to expand bioproduct design engine ‘running evolution at hyper-speed’“Our expertise enables the product and process discovery to scale at orders of magnitude, faster and cheaper than any other company that’s out there. We take a hypothesis-free approach and say what’s the phenotype, the output of the thing that we’re looking for? And then Triplebar technology enables us to… Read more: Triplebar raises $20m to expand bioproduct design engine ‘running evolution at hyper-speed’
- Steakholder Foods Announces Cost Reduction in Growth Media for Bovine Cell CultivationThe company’s biology team has reduced the cost of its in-house growth media for bovine cell cultivation in suspension by just over 75% from prices two years ago. Source: Steakholder Foods Announces Cost Reduction in Growth Media for Bovine Cell Cultivation
- Shin Ramyun Maker Invest $7.4M in Food Tech with Cultivated Meat FocusNongshim, the company behind the ultra-famous Shin Ramyun noodle brand, will pour the capital into helping discover and foster emerging companies working with the future of food in South Korea, particularly in areas like smart farming, digital transformation and cultivated meat, which it views as the closest and most viable… Read more: Shin Ramyun Maker Invest $7.4M in Food Tech with Cultivated Meat Focus
- China’s CellX is Confident it “Can Achieve Cost-Effective Mass Production of Cultivated Fish”A month after announcing it had commenced operations at what it claims to be China’s first large-scale pilot plant for cultivated meat, CellX states this week it has made significant strides towards the industrial application of cultivated seafood.“ Through the use of high-throughput equipment and systematic research methods for cell… Read more: China’s CellX is Confident it “Can Achieve Cost-Effective Mass Production of Cultivated Fish”
- CULT Food Science appoints food industry entrepreneur Mitchell Scott as CEOCULT Food Science Corp (CSE:CULT, OTCQB:CULTF) announced that it has appointed Mitchell Scott as its new CEO effective November 1, 2023, following the resignation of Lejjy Gafour. Source: CULT Food Science appoints food industry entrepreneur Mitchell Scott as CEO | CSE:CULT, OTCQB:CULTF
- IntegriCulture’s Yuki Hanyu: ‘We’re a cellular ag infrastructure company, not just a cultivated meat company’Enter IntegriCulture’s CulNet system, which deploys a central tank containing cells that will be used to make cultivated meat (muscle, fat, etc.) and a series of ‘feeder’ tanks that contain other cell types such as liver or placental cells. The feeder cells secrete growth factors (proteins that stimulate cell growth… Read more: IntegriCulture’s Yuki Hanyu: ‘We’re a cellular ag infrastructure company, not just a cultivated meat company’
- Wanda Fish Nets $7M for Cultured Bluefin Tuna, Eyes 2026 LaunchWanda Fish, the Israeli startup making cultivated whole-cut bluefin tuna, has raised $7M in a seed funding round to accelerate production and scalability. The company is planning for regulatory approval in the US in 2025, and says it will launch in the market the year after. Source: Wanda Fish Nets… Read more: Wanda Fish Nets $7M for Cultured Bluefin Tuna, Eyes 2026 Launch
- The Cultivated B Initiated Pre-Submission Process towards EFSA Certification for Cultivated SausageThe Cultivated B (TCB) began discussions with the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and officially entered the pre-submission process for novel food approval of a novel or non-farmed sausage product. Subsequent to the official submission, TCB will emerge as world’s first biotech company to apply for EFSA certification for cultivated… Read more: The Cultivated B Initiated Pre-Submission Process towards EFSA Certification for Cultivated Sausage
- Japanese company slashes lab-grown meat protein cost by 90%Major Japanese engineering company Hitachi Zosen will start selling synthetic protein to artificial meat producers as soon as 2025, Nikkei has learned, using a process that reduces production costs by about 90%. Hitachi Zosen aims to start selling its synthetic protein to artificial meat makers in Singapore during the fiscal… Read more: Japanese company slashes lab-grown meat protein cost by 90%
- At One Ventures launches $375m climate tech fundHelen Lin, partner, At One Ventures, said: “It’s going to take a different kind of thinking than what got us into the climate crisis to get us out. That’s why we’ve invested in founders coming from a variety of backgrounds and on a global scale, ranging from academics and scientists… Read more: At One Ventures launches $375m climate tech fund
- Cultivated seafood startup BlueNalu bags $33.5m in series B roundSan Diego-based cellular aquaculture startup BlueNalu has raised $33.5 million in a series B round from “new and existing investors” according to UK-based venture capital firm Agronomics. Prior to this round, BlueNalu had raised a $4.5 million seed round in 2018, a $20 million series A round in 2019, and… Read more: Cultivated seafood startup BlueNalu bags $33.5m in series B round
- Premium Roe: Can Marinas Bio’s Cultivated Caviar Catch On?Funding-wise, the company has managed to get support from the ProVeg Incubator and SeaAhead, and Leung said Marinas Bio is supported by Trendlines AFIC too. In a statement explaining why ProVeg picked the startup as part of its new cohort, the Incubator’s co-head and partnership lead Antje Rauscher said: “Cultivated… Read more: Premium Roe: Can Marinas Bio’s Cultivated Caviar Catch On?
Market
- 🎥 What is the market in China for meat and dairy alternatives?Dao Foods International,* which has invested in multiple startups in the alt protein arena in China including leading domestic player Starfield, was equally enthusiastic about plant-based dairy, and more positive than Ho about plant-based meat, although cofounder Tao Zhang acknowledged the challenges facing startups in the space. Source: 🎥 What… Read more: 🎥 What is the market in China for meat and dairy alternatives?
- Report: 75% of UK flexitarians don’t want plant-based meatNearly three-quarters (73%) of flexitarian eaters in the UK wouldn’t select a plant-based item on a restaurant menu. That’s according to a new poll of 2,000 meat eaters conducted by plant-based alt-meat maker Vegetarian Butcher and Burger King UK. The poll also revealed that 48% of meat eaters in the… Read more: Report: 75% of UK flexitarians don’t want plant-based meat
- Upstream tech is the new star of Asia-Pacific agrifoodtechAsia-Pacific has long been a hotbed for agrifoodtech innovation. That’s unlikely to change, despite the recent drop in agrifoodtech funding to the region. Investment in Asia-Pacific agrifoodtech startups reached $6.5 billion in 2022, a 58% year-over-year decline on 2021’s record-breaking year, according to the new Asia-Pacific Agrifood Investment report from… Read more: Upstream tech is the new star of Asia-Pacific agrifoodtech
- The secret ingredient to plant-based meat? Real meat“Blended meat” (also called hybrid meat) combines a small amount of fat and protein from traditional meat sources with a plant-based product to elevate the taste and mouthfeel of alternative proteins while keeping most of the emissions benefits of a non-meat food. “If you really have the goal of reducing… Read more: The secret ingredient to plant-based meat? Real meat
- The next wave: Alternative seafood solutionsThis means future growth cannot rely on incremental growth in wild-caught seafood. And while aquaculture has been the primary source of new fish supply in recent years, it has not been able to keep pace with demand. So-called alternative seafood—substitutes for popular fish and shellfish such as tuna, salmon, and… Read more: The next wave: Alternative seafood solutions
- Sustainable protein in the UK: an ecosystem reviewGFI Europe’s analysis maps hotspots of an emerging UK sustainable protein ecosystem. By implementing our nine recommendations, policymakers can create the enabling environment needed to help plant-based, fermentation and cultivated meat flourish in the UK. Source: Sustainable protein in the UK: an ecosystem review – GFI Europe
- Investments’ changing alt-meat targetsCultivated meat companies have mostly bounced around about 25% of funds invested in the sector, a healthy portion of the available capital considering the product has only just been approved for sale to consumers. Expect that percentage, however, to skyrocket in the near future. Source: Investments’ changing alt-meat targets |… Read more: Investments’ changing alt-meat targets
- Food Frontier Report: Opportunities Abound as Asia’s Alternative Protein Market GrowsWith meat and seafood consumption in Asia slated for 78% growth by 2050, according to a 2018 report from Asia Research & Engagement, regional consumers are increasingly turning to meat substitutes: data from Statista projects that the Asian alternative protein market will reach USD13.63 billion by 2027 from a current… Read more: Food Frontier Report: Opportunities Abound as Asia’s Alternative Protein Market Grows
- Meat-Eating In Germany Hits A Record LowThe central European country is famous for meaty foods like schnitzel and sausages. Its residents, however, are increasingly moving away from these products and towards plant-based alternatives. Figures from the German Agriculture Ministry found that that meat consumption had dropped to 52kg (115 pounds) per person in 2022. This was… Read more: Meat-Eating In Germany Hits A Record Low
- From Burgers to Biotech: Navigating the Alternative Protein Business Model LandscapeIn this article, I delve into the world of alternative proteins, exploring different business models that companies adopt and examining how these models are valued. By better understanding the dynamics at play, I seek to shed light on the valuation landscape and unlock insights into the evolving nature of this… Read more: From Burgers to Biotech: Navigating the Alternative Protein Business Model Landscape
- Cultivated meat: Foodtech fantasy or the future of meat? ‘None of this stuff makes any commercial sense until everyone’s eating it’Speaking at a panel debate moderated by AFN at SynBioBeta, three high-profile cultivated meat startups acknowledged that the media narrative around the technology has changed, with optimistic articles about innovations in the space competing with headlines about cancerous cells, greenwashing, vaporware, and business failures. Source: Cultivated meat: Foodtech fantasy or… Read more: Cultivated meat: Foodtech fantasy or the future of meat? ‘None of this stuff makes any commercial sense until everyone’s eating it’
- ‘There Is No Alternative’: Lidl Announces Plans To Reduce Meat In StoresTo support its decision to deprioritize animal products, Lidl plans to release a sustainability report later this year. The analysis will focus on the key differences between animal and plant-based foods. From here, it will demonstrate how a switch to more vegan products can lessen environmental impact. This will then… Read more: ‘There Is No Alternative’: Lidl Announces Plans To Reduce Meat In Stores
- For love of meat: Five consumer trends in China that global meat executives need to understandDespite growing awareness of sustainability and the emerging desire to reduce meat consumption, alternative meat has gained little traction in China. Only 6 percent of the consumers surveyed report purchasing alternative meat in the past month, versus 30 to 40 percent of their global peers. More than 70 percent of… Read more: For love of meat: Five consumer trends in China that global meat executives need to understand
- Cultivated pet food for cats and dogsWith a growing interest in more sustainable and healthier pet food, plant-based pet food is expected to move from a niche market to the mainstream in the coming years. Going one step further, companies are now innovating to produce cultivated meat for pet food. In the context of this development… Read more: Cultivated pet food for cats and dogs
- How well is Europe playing the cultured meat game?Professor Mark Post of Maastricht University, otherwise known as the ‘Hamburger Professor’, presented the first cultured beef burger back in 2013, it cost over €200,000. In 2019, he claimed it now costs about €9 per burger. Whilst this is still much more expensive than any hamburger you would find in… Read more: How well is Europe playing the cultured meat game?
Laws, ethics and lobbies
- Bene Meat Technologies Receives First-Ever EU Approval for Cultivated Meat for Pet FoodIt was only this January that the startup announced it was developing animal cell lines to produce cultivated meat ingredients for the pet food industry. Nonetheless, today, BMT announces that it has received a license from the European Feed Materials Register to commercialise its products. This organization oversees the authorization… Read more: Bene Meat Technologies Receives First-Ever EU Approval for Cultivated Meat for Pet Food
- ‘The anti-livestock people are a pest’: how UN food body played down role of farming in climate changeIn her own research into how agribusiness reacted to Livestock’s Long Shadow, Jacquet found “clear evidence that the industry saw it as a threat and something that they needed to control. They call it ‘a major PR problem’. It set off an industry lobbying coalition somewhat comparable to the oil… Read more: ‘The anti-livestock people are a pest’: how UN food body played down role of farming in climate change
- Cell-Cultivated Meat Is Gaining Ground – Womble Bond DickinsonAs of yet, no cell-cultivated meats have been approved for sale in the EU. However, the European Food Safety Authority (“EFSA”) has already been preparing for the eventuality of cell-cultivated meats. In a recent interview, an EFSA official stated that cell-cultivated meat would be considered a “novel food” and a… Read more: Cell-Cultivated Meat Is Gaining Ground – Womble Bond Dickinson
- UK Government could speed up sale of cultivated meatUnder current UK law, novel foods must gain authorisation from the Food Standards Agency (FSA), a process that could take between 18 months and two years. However, a deal with Israel would see the two countries collaborate on cell-based meat research, potentially allowing for cultivated products to be made available… Read more: UK Government could speed up sale of cultivated meat
- Why ‘Climate-Friendly’ Meat Is a MythThe Brazen Climate Friendly Ground Beef Burger was developed under Tyson’s own Climate Smart Beef Program, supported by taxpayer funds. On its face, this might give the impression that the beef industry is finally doing its part to mitigate the effects of climate change by reducing emissions. But frustratingly, the… Read more: Why ‘Climate-Friendly’ Meat Is a Myth
- France makes fresh bid to ban meat names for plant-based foodFrance unveiled on Monday revised proposals banning the use of meat names like “steak” and “spare ribs” for plant-based food made in the country as it seeks to avoid “misleading claims” of some meat alternatives.The first country in the European Union to attempt to impose such a restriction, France had… Read more: France makes fresh bid to ban meat names for plant-based food
- Public policies and vested interests preserve the animal farming status quo at the expense of animal product analogsResearch to improve animal product analogs is led by private companies and has only recently been supported by public funds. A shift in food policy is required to improve technologies to produce sustainable alternatives to animal-source products and reduce the environmental impact of the food system. Source: Public policies and… Read more: Public policies and vested interests preserve the animal farming status quo at the expense of animal product analogs
- World Farmer’s Org. rejects cultivated meat“The WFO strongly opposes replacing farmer-grown food with lab-made food stuff,” the organization said. “Such substitutes dismiss the work and contribution of farmers to sustainability and push consumers toward a homogenous dietary model that undermines the tradition, diversity, richness, quality and uniqueness of regional food systems across the planet.” Source:… Read more: World Farmer’s Org. rejects cultivated meat
- Mosa Meat and Meatable welcome agreement with Dutch government to conduct pre-approval tastings of cultivated meat & seafood in The NetherlandsToday it is being announced that cultivated meat and seafood can soon be taste tested under limited conditions in The Netherlands. The Dutch government, in collaboration with cultivated meat producers Meatable and Mosa Meat and sector representative HollandBIO, successfully created a ‘code of practice’ that would make tastings possible in… Read more: Mosa Meat and Meatable welcome agreement with Dutch government to conduct pre-approval tastings of cultivated meat & seafood in The Netherlands
- EU novel foods regulation ‘hindering innovation’ in meat alternatives sectorNovel foods regulation is a ‘huge hurdle’ said Leonie Jahn, co-founder MATR Foods, which is producing plant-based meat alternatives based on fungal fermentation. Europe’s approval process is “highly limiting what can be done and how fast and how viable the business plan is,” she said. “Also, for a university it is… Read more: EU novel foods regulation ‘hindering innovation’ in meat alternatives sector
- Upside Foods, Eat Just Earn USDA Label Approval for Cultivated Meat: ‘A Major Step Forward’California’s Upside Foods earns USDA label approval for its cultivated meat just days after Eat Just earned the same clearance for its cultivated chicken, bringing cell-based meat one step closer to American plates. The label approval for Upside Foods’ cell-cultivated chicken came on Monday, the company said in a statement.… Read more: Upside Foods, Eat Just Earn USDA Label Approval for Cultivated Meat: ‘A Major Step Forward’
- Government mulls fast-track for lab-grown meat approvalOne of Deloitte’s most controversial suggestions is that the UK should adopt a system of “collaborative regulation” under which, instead of the existing approvals process which can take years, the FSA would authorise novel foods to be sold using the evidence base or decisions of food regulators in other countries.… Read more: Government mulls fast-track for lab-grown meat approval
- Cruelty-Free Cultivated Meat Just Took a Step Closer to US ApprovalIn a post on LinkedIn, Eat Just revealed that Sanah Baig, the USDA Deputy Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics had visited its headquarters to witness how it makes both its vegan egg products and cultivated chicken, which is grown from real animal cells in bioreactors. Source: Cruelty-Free Cultivated… Read more: Cruelty-Free Cultivated Meat Just Took a Step Closer to US Approval
- Texas governor signs new labeling law for plant-based and cultivated meatAs for cultivated meat, it’s unlikely that any state labeling law will be enforced. Federal labeling law supersedes that of individual states. The USDA and the FDA, which are jointly regulating cultivated meat, are working toward devising labeling rules for the new category. While there is no specific timeline for… Read more: Texas governor signs new labeling law for plant-based and cultivated meat
- Inside the Battle Between Big Ag and Lab-Grown MeatPolicymaking in D.C. tends to favor the established folks with entrenched lobbyists. Such a situation can be unfavorable to the cell-based businesses looking to influence the rules that, depending on how they’re crafted, could spell doom or bloom for the cultivated-meat industry. “There are various ways in which Big Meat… Read more: Inside the Battle Between Big Ag and Lab-Grown Meat
Research
- Stem cell-based strategies and challenges for production of cultivated meatIn this Review, we explore the potential of stem cells to create the major cellular components of cultivated meat. By using developments in the fields of tissue engineering and biomedicine, we explore the advantages and disadvantages of strategies involving primary adult and pluripotent stem cells for generating cell sources that… Read more: Stem cell-based strategies and challenges for production of cultivated meat
- New Book : Advances in cultured meat technologyAdvances in cultured meat technology reviews the growing interest and emergence in the field of cellular agriculture as one possible solution to achieving this. The book reviews the major technologies used in cultured meat product development, including cell line sourcing, cell growth media, bioreactors for cell multiplication and tissue engineering… Read more: New Book : Advances in cultured meat technology
- For Singaporeans, ‘Cultivated’ Meat Is the Most Preferred TermThe new study, carried out by the Singapore Management University (SMU) and published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology, collected the thoughts of 10 meat-eaters who have tried cultivated meat, and 10 who haven’t. When asked what term they prefer to see it described as, ‘cultivated meat’ came out on… Read more: For Singaporeans, ‘Cultivated’ Meat Is the Most Preferred Term
- Challenging cultured meat naturalness perceptions: The role of consumers’ mindsetIn Study 1, we present findings illustrating that a strategy challenging the importance of naturalness is effective at increasing cultured meat acceptance among consumers with a growth mindset. In Study 2, we demonstrate how complementing such messaging strategy with a specific form of creative narrative can make it effective among… Read more: Challenging cultured meat naturalness perceptions: The role of consumers’ mindset
- Modern meat: the next generation of meat from cells – Oxford University Research ArchiveModern Meat is the first textbook on cultivated meat, with contributions from over 100 experts within the cultivated meat community. The Sections of Modern Meat comprise 5 broad categories of cultivated meat: Context, Impact, Science, Society, and World.The 19 chapters of Modern Meat, spread across these 5 sections, provide detailed… Read more: Modern meat: the next generation of meat from cells – Oxford University Research Archive
- The role of natural scientists in navigating the social implications of cellular agriculture: insights from an interdisciplinary workshopAt his workshop, representatives from cellular agriculture companies, STEM research labs, dairy farms, animal rights organizations, and Indigenous communities convened to discuss the social implications of cellular agriculture. Specific topics of interest were food security, labor, and employment, power relations and governance, and animal ethics. In this commentary, the authors… Read more: The role of natural scientists in navigating the social implications of cellular agriculture: insights from an interdisciplinary workshop
- Environmental life cycle assessment of recombinant growth factor production for cultivated meat applicationsLife cycle inventories were developed for four recombinant growth factors (IGF-1, FGF, TGF-β, and PDGF) produced using a novel bench-scale process. The functional unit was selected as 1 mg of produced growth factor. The results indicate that recombinant growth factors can have significant environmental impacts within cultivated meat systems, despite being… Read more: Environmental life cycle assessment of recombinant growth factor production for cultivated meat applications
- Scientists reprogram connective tissue cells into muscle stem cells without genetic engineeringFinally, Bar-Nur and his team would like to incorporate their new findings into their ongoing work with cow cells—another research stream of the lab. They hope this method would assist current efforts to culture animal muscle stem cells for cultivated meat production, an alternative method to produce meat for consumption.… Read more: Scientists reprogram connective tissue cells into muscle stem cells without genetic engineering
- Are You Sceptical About Cultivated Meat? A New Study Explains The Reason WhyThe research found that food technology neophobia strongly impacts consumer acceptance of cultured meat. It has negative effects on their behavioural intentions – but even then, participants indicated they are likely to embrace cultivated meat. Source: Are You Sceptical About Cultivated Meat? A New Study Explains The Reason Why –… Read more: Are You Sceptical About Cultivated Meat? A New Study Explains The Reason Why
- Do Consumers Perceive Cultivated Meat as a Sustainable Substitute to Conventional Meat? Assessing the Facilitators and Inhibitors of Cultivated Meat AcceptanceConventional meat production has become a force of environmental damage, but global meat consumption is predicted to continue increasing. Therefore, the technology of cultivated meat is undergoing rapid development. The current study explores what factors explain U.S. consumers’ intention to purchase cultivated meat as a sustainable substitute for conventional meat… Read more: Do Consumers Perceive Cultivated Meat as a Sustainable Substitute to Conventional Meat? Assessing the Facilitators and Inhibitors of Cultivated Meat Acceptance
- Cultured Meat and FarmersIn a two-year study, a team led by the RAU is asking what farmers think of cultured meat, then modelling how real farm businesses might fare if it becomes part of our diets. Will cultured meat impact UK farmers? Tackling and adapting to climate change will change the way we… Read more: Cultured Meat and Farmers
- Interest in Alternative Protein Products Is Growing, but Taste and Price Are Its Biggest BarriersMany Americans said they’ve never heard of newer alternative proteins, including mycoprotein (71%); cell-cultured (60%), cell-based (55%), and cultivated (48%) meat; and fermented protein (59%). But once they were provided with definitions for these products, IFIC found that interest in cell-based/lab-grown protein had grown to 42% since their 2021 survey… Read more: Interest in Alternative Protein Products Is Growing, but Taste and Price Are Its Biggest Barriers
- Eating less meat ‘like taking 8m cars off road’Prof Peter Scarborough, of Oxford University, who led the new research, told BBC News: ”Our results show that if everyone in the UK who is a big meat-eater reduced the amount of meat they ate, it would make a really big difference.” “You don’t need to completely eradicate meat from… Read more: Eating less meat ‘like taking 8m cars off road’
- Co-culture approaches for cultivated meat productionThe need and demand for sustainable, nutritious and animal-welfare-conscious meat substitutes has spurred research into cultivated meat production. Meat mainly contains muscle and fat tissue, which can be fabricated using various tissue engineering strategies, including monoculture and co-culture approaches in different scaffolds. Source: Co-culture approaches for cultivated meat production |… Read more: Co-culture approaches for cultivated meat production
- Iron bioavailability should be considered when modeling omnivorous, vegetarian, and vegan dietsTo lower environmental impact of human food consumption, replacement of animal proteins with plant-based proteins is encouraged. However, the lower iron bioavailability of plant-based foods is rarely considered when designing healthy and sustainable diets by using diet modeling. The estimated absorbable iron content of vegetarian and vegan menu plans might… Read more: Iron bioavailability should be considered when modeling omnivorous, vegetarian, and vegan diets
Other alternatives to meat
- Impossible Foods CEO: ‘I feel good about where we are, I do not feel good about where the category is’Speaking to AgFunderNews after Impossible Beef Lite secured certification from the American Heart Association’s Heart-Check Food Certification Program (more on this below) McGuinness said: “I’ve spoken to all the CEOs in plant-based meat and I think we all agree that our foods can continue to get better. The category is very challenged… Read more: Impossible Foods CEO: ‘I feel good about where we are, I do not feel good about where the category is’
- Tyson Foods Announces Partnership with Protix for More Sustainable Protein ProductionTyson Foods, Inc. (NYSE: TSN), one of the world’s largest food companies, has reached an agreement for a two-fold investment with Protix, the leading global insect ingredients company. The strategic investment will support the growth of the emerging insect ingredient industry and expand the use of insect ingredient solutions to… Read more: Tyson Foods Announces Partnership with Protix for More Sustainable Protein Production
- South Korea Unveils Ambitious Plan to Cultivate Thriving Plant-Based Food IndustryThe government of South Korea has made the strategic decision to foster the development of a plant-based food industry within the country. Plant-based substitutes, consisting of ingredients like soybeans, are being promoted as alternatives to animal protein. Source: South Korea Unveils Ambitious Plan to Cultivate Thriving Plant-Based Food Industry
- South Korea Unveils Ambitious Plan to Cultivate Thriving Plant-Based Food IndustryThe government of South Korea has made the strategic decision to foster the development of a plant-based food industry within the country. Plant-based substitutes, consisting of ingredients like soybeans, are being promoted as alternatives to animal protein. Source: South Korea Unveils Ambitious Plan to Cultivate Thriving Plant-Based Food Industry
- What We Know About UK Plant-Based Meat ConsumersAfter several years of exponential growth in the plant-based meat (PBM) market, this report takes stock of how consumers view PBM today, and what producers can do to increase market growth. To this end, we surveyed 1,000 people in the UK about their views on PBMs. Source: What We Know… Read more: What We Know About UK Plant-Based Meat Consumers
- Revolutionizing Plant Proteins: Scientists Unlock the Secret to Juicier Plant-Based MeatOne of the most significant barriers to the adoption of plant-based meat alternatives is their often dry and astringent texture upon consumption.A team of scientists, headed by Professor Anwesha Sarkar at the University of Leeds, is pioneering a transformation in the texture of plant proteins. They are working to change… Read more: Revolutionizing Plant Proteins: Scientists Unlock the Secret to Juicier Plant-Based Meat
- Study: Animal-Free Milk Generates 96% Fewer Emissions Than DairyThe results show that Bon Vivant’s milk generates 96% fewer emissions than cow’s milk, while using 99% less water, 92% less land, and 50% less energy. According to Bon Vivant, the dairy sector is responsible for 2.7% of global greenhouse gas emissions — more than aviation. Consequently, a shift to… Read more: Study: Animal-Free Milk Generates 96% Fewer Emissions Than Dairy
- Carrefour, Unilever & Danone Lead Plant-Based Coalition in FranceThe French government has proposed a law banning meat-related terms like ‘steak’, ‘ham’ and ‘beef’ on plant-based alternatives made and sold in France, which is currently under consideration by the EU Commission. In light of this, the new coalition involves Carrefour, Unilever, Danone, Bel, Savencia, Andros, Bonduelle and Nutrition &… Read more: Carrefour, Unilever & Danone Lead Plant-Based Coalition in France
- Jimi Biotech successfully develops “world’s first” deer antler stem cell lineChina-based cell-ag company Jimi Biotech has announced the successful development of the “world’s first” deer antler stem cell line, making it the first company globally that is capable of mass-producing deer antler stem cells through cellular cultivation. Source: Jimi Biotech successfully develops “world’s first” deer antler stem cell line |… Read more: Jimi Biotech successfully develops “world’s first” deer antler stem cell line
- Making Food with Microbes: Precision Fermentation Market to Reach $34.9 billion by 2031magazineThe global precision fermentation market size was valued at $1.3 billion in 2021 and is estimated to reach $34.9 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 40.5% from 2022 to 2031, according to Valuates Reports.Also known as microbial fermentation, this tech uses genetically modified microbes (bacteria, yeast, algae, or… Read more: Making Food with Microbes: Precision Fermentation Market to Reach $34.9 billion by 2031magazine
- Saudi officials ink deals to develop plant-based food alternativesOfficials from the Saudi Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture recently signed two agreements to transform agricultural plant products into plant-based foods with animal protein flavor. A ministry research center focused on advancing agricultural product development will also be established, the Saudi Press Agency reported. Source: Saudi officials ink deals… Read more: Saudi officials ink deals to develop plant-based food alternatives
- Molecular farming: IngredientWerks grows heme protein in corn at ‘unprecedented low cost’Spun off from biotech firm AgriVida last year, Woburn, Massachusetts-based IngredientWerks has filed patents covering the expression of myoglobin, leghemoglobin, and casein in genetically engineered corn crops. It announced seed funding from Open Prairie and ARCH Venture Partners in February and is currently raising a series A round. Motif is a… Read more: Molecular farming: IngredientWerks grows heme protein in corn at ‘unprecedented low cost’
- Gelatin Substitute Made From Peas Emerges From University of AlbertaThe Univeristy of Alberta team says the discovery occurred by accident during an experiment when the team realized that certain conditions, like changes in pH, resulted in creating the gelatin. The team says it boasts industrial applications that mimic conventional gelatin, which is made from animal cartilage and bones. Source:… Read more: Gelatin Substitute Made From Peas Emerges From University of Alberta
- ProVeg Incubator Seeks Cultivated Octopus – “It’s What the World Needs Now”ProVeg’s startup Incubator programme is inviting founders, whether those who may be able to cultivate octopus or those offering another solution to the problems in our food system, to apply to its twice-yearly programme. The Incubator is designed to accelerate innovative alternative protein products to the market by providing them… Read more: ProVeg Incubator Seeks Cultivated Octopus – “It’s What the World Needs Now”
- How a more ethical “faux” gras could change fine diningDemetrius Simms at Robb Report also published an article about Borgel’s faux gras in December 2022, stating that “the combined result appears similar to traditional foie gras, but has a creamier texture.” Simms also argues that there is a health benefit in the trade-off, as the vegan alternative contains less… Read more: How a more ethical “faux” gras could change fine dining