Israel's Aleph Farms has submitted a regulatory approval application to sell its cultivated beef products in Thailand, marking the country's first application for cultivated meat.

© Aleph Farms

Aleph Farms Submits Thailand’s First Cultivated Meat Application, Eyes 2026 Market Launch

Israel’s Aleph Farms has submitted a regulatory approval application to sell its cultivated beef products in Thailand, marking the country’s first application for a cultivated meat product. The safety dossier was filed to the National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC) under the Thai Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines for novel foods. While timelines can be uncertain, a novel food regulatory process can take around 18 months, which means the regulatory green light could arrive mid-2026. Upon receiving approval, Aleph Farms plans to sell its flagship product, the Petit Steak, under the Aleph Cuts brand with partner and investor Thai Union, a global leader in animal protein. Co-founder and CEO Didier Toubia shares, “Like many of its neighboring countries, Thailand currently imports the majority …

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Meatable, a Dutch producer of cell-based pork meat, has become the first company to hold an officially approved cultivated meat tasting in the European Union and the first in the Netherlands.

Image courtesy of Meatable © Bart Maat

Is Cultivated Meat Vegan? The Vegan Society Says “Not Enough to Support it”

The Vegan Society acknowledges that cultivated meat has potential benefits, such as reducing animal slaughter and suffering, environmental improvements (less land and water usage, reduced greenhouse emissions), reduced zoonotic disease risks, and decreased antibiotic resistance. However, the organization states, “Cultivated meat is not vegan. Furthermore, it may never be considered vegan.” In a newly released research briefing, The Vegan Society discusses the intersections between veganism, ethics, and cultivated meat, highlighting the current limitations in alignment with vegan principles and ethical considerations. The paper also provides readers with essential information on the technology that has moved from a “fringe idea found only in science fiction” to being approved in Singapore, the US, and Israel, served in restaurants in Hong Kong, and approved as a pet food …

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Simple Planet's cultivated meat

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New Tri-Party Initiative Launches to Accelerate Cultivated Meat in South Korea Ahead of 2025 Market Launch

The Good Food Institute APAC (GFI APAC), the Korea Biotechnology Industry Organization (KoreaBIO), and the Bio-based Future Food Industry Committee (BFFIC) have joined forces to accelerate novel proteins in South Korea. The partnership was formalized in a memorandum of understanding (MOU) ceremony in Seoul, attended by GFI Founder and President Bruce Friedrich, KoreaBIO Vice President Seung-kyou Lee, and BFFIC President Dominic Jeong. As part of the MOU, the organizations will work to boost market research, technical knowledge exchange, and policy coordination for novel food regulatory frameworks. Additionally, they will collaborate on educational initiatives such as global webinars, workshops, and presentations on cultivated meat and other novel proteins. The MOU will also foster stronger connections between South Korean and overseas industry stakeholders and facilitate international expansion for …

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The APAC Regulatory Coordination Forum has released two white papers addressing essential safety and regulatory concerns for cultivated meat.

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APAC Regulatory Coordination Forum Releases White Papers to Harmonize Cultivated Meat Standards

The APAC Regulatory Coordination Forum has released two white papers that address essential safety and regulatory concerns for cultivated meat to support their commercialization while promoting safe innovations in the Asia-Pacific market. The new resources examine current gaps in cell line developments and cell culture media components — the building blocks of cultivated meat production — identified as the two regulatory topics of highest interest in 2024. The cell line development paper focuses on issues related to cell line documentation, stability, genetic modification, and trade requirements for cultivated food production. Meanwhile, the cell culture media paper addresses safety assessment protocols, evaluation of expression systems for media substances, categorization of media components, quality standards, genetic engineering standards, and conformity assessment procedures. The papers were developed with …

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Forsea's cultivated eel

© Liran Maimon

Forsea Achieves “Record-Breaking” Cell Density in Cultivated Eel Prodution

Cultivated seafood startup Forsea Foods announces a significant tech breakthrough for producing cultivated eel at scale. The Israeli startup claims it has reached a “record-breaking” cell density of over 300 million cells/ml using minimal growth media, setting a new industry standard. “This is the highest cell density recorded in the field, moving Forsea to the forefront of cultured seafood production efficiency,” the startup said. Forsea’s cultivated seafood platform implements organoid technology to create a natural growth environment for animal cells, forming three-dimensional tissue structures (whole cuts) without scaffolding. The technology also simplifies production, enhances scalability, and reduces the need for expensive growth factors. Moria Shimoni, CTO of Forsea, comments, “The breakthrough to this level of cell density highlights the strength of our organoid technology. It’s …

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SuperMeat's cultivated burgers, grilled

Image courtesy of SuperMeat

SuperMeat’s 100% Cultivated Chicken Hits Price Parity with Premium Options at $11.79/lb

SuperMeat today announces it is able to produce 100% cultivated chicken (85% muscle and 15% fat) at $11.79 per pound when produced at a large scale, matching the cost, taste, and texture of premium US pasture-raised chicken. Additionally, the company claims it can produce three pounds of cultivated meat — equal to the amount of edible meat from one chicken — in around two days. In contrast, it takes 42 days to raise, slaughter, and process a chicken. The company says that advancements in its proprietary production process have led to these breakthroughs, demonstrating that the scalability and viability of cultivated meat are possible. “Current sentiment around cultivated meat includes skepticism regarding its scalability and market readiness, with concerns that cultivated meat may be more …

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Aleph Farms hosted its first cultivated beef tasting in Thailand, marking a significant regional milestone.

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Ahead of Thai Market Launch, Aleph Farms Gathers Chef Feedback on Cultivated Beef Steaks

Aleph Farms recently hosted a chef evaluation in Thailand for its cultivated beef steaks, Aleph Cuts, to gather insights from experts as it prepares to introduce a product in the country. After conducting workshops with chefs to meet local culinary preferences, the “world’s first cultivated beef steaks,” were presented to local food industry professionals in Bangkok. The initiative also received media attention from the Associated Press (AP), which covered the tasting in a video. Amir Ilan, resident chef at Aleph Farms, grilled two thin, seasoned cuts for a taster dish in front of the attendees. AP described the scene as filled with the aroma of cooked meat, while the cultivated beef generated positive reactions for its taste. Thomtanut Hatayodom, founder of Thai food chain Easy! Buddy, …

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Europa-Flagge im Wind

© Henner Damke - stock.adobe.com

EU Commission Deems Hungary’s Proposed Cultivated Meat Ban ‘Unjustified'”

Following the TRIS assessment, the European Commission has deemed the Hungarian ban on cultured meat “unjustified” and potentially harmful to the European single market, reports the Good Food Institute. According to the Commission, the ban could disrupt the harmonized authorization procedure for novel foods at the EU level, which involves scientific evaluation by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). The Commission and some Member States also highlighted that Hungary had not provided evidence against cultivated meat to support the ban. Hungary proposed a ban on cultivated meat this July; the TRIS procedure prevents national parliaments from passing bills that could affect the European Single Market without consulting other member states and the Commission. The assesment of Hungary’s proposed ban underscores the importance of European review in …

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Cultivated grouper fillet

Cultivated grouper fillet © UMAMI Bioworks

UMAMI Bioworks to Bring Cultivated White Fish to the UK Amid New Regulatory Landscape

UMAMI Bioworks, a startup from Singapore developing cultivated seafood technologies, announces the launch of operations in the UK, marking its first European expansion. UMAMI Bioworks has developed a platform for cultivated seafood to address the overfishing crisis with sustainable alternatives, positioning itself as a leader in the blue bioeconomy. By introducing its technology in the UK, the company aims to deliver a high-quality pipeline of cultivated seafood products, starting with white fish. The UK’s supportive regulatory framework, evidenced by the recent launch of a regulatory sandbox for cultivated proteins and reforms to streamline the regulatory process for regulated foods (which includes cultivated seafood), will allow the company to capitalize on the UK market. CEO Mihir Pershad shares, “Our decision to enter the UK market aligns …

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Cultivated bacon on top of a burger

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UK Invests £1.6 Million in Europe’s First Regulatory Sandbox to Fast-Track Cultivated Meat Approvals

The UK government’s Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) has announced £1.6 million in funding for a regulatory “sandbox” within the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Food Standards Scotland (FSS), specifically for cultivated meat and seafood. Claimed as Europe’s first, the sandbox aims to accelerate the authorization process for these novel proteins. Cultivated meat must undergo a comprehensive food safety assessment in alignment with the UK’s existing regulatory framework for novel foods and must be authorized by ministers before becoming publicly available. The sandbox aims to boost regulators’ scientific knowledge of cultivated meat, develop detailed guidance, and provide pre-submission consultations to companies to streamline approval timelines while maintaining safety standards. It will also review hygiene in production facilities, labeling, and nomenclature. Other initiatives, approvals, …

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Study Predicts Cultivated Meat Could Slash Social Costs of Animal Meat by Over Half

Does cultivated meat have the potential to reduce the impact of traditional meat production on the environment, workers, and animals? A recent study by the Dutch project PPP True Price: from Insight to Action reveals that by 2030, the overall social costs of cultivated meat from RESPECTfarms could be 2 to 3.5 times lower than conventional meat from dairy cows, chicken, and pork produced in the Netherlands. The research, conducted by Wageningen Economic Research and CE Delft, employed the True Cost Accounting (TCA) method to analyze how the impact of meat production relates to the production of cultured meat and express it in euros. Switching to cultivated meat According to Pelle Sinke, a researcher at CE Delft, the advantage of cultivated meat relies on its more efficient conversion of feed …

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Giulia Casarini, Sales Leader EMEA Bioprocessing equipment © SOLARIS™ BIOTECH by Donaldson

Solaris Biotech: “We are Deeply Passionate About the Alternative Protein Sector and its Transformative Potential”

In our latest interview, Giulia Casarini, Sales Leader EMEA at Solaris Biotech, discusses the evolving landscape of alternative protein production and the future of bioprocessing technology. Solaris Biotech specializes in delivering advanced technology solutions for the entire range of processes in the bioprocessing industry. Casarini offers insights into Solaris Biotech’s approach to supporting the alternative protein sector and shares her perspective on the trends shaping the industry. Can you elaborate on your unique selling proposition and how you differentiate yourselves from competitors in this space? At Solaris, we are deeply passionate about the alternative protein sector and its transformative potential for sustainability in the food industry. Our commitment to a more sustainable future drives us to collaborate with companies, research centers, and universities to pioneer …

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Happy Ocean Foods

© Happy Ocean Foods

Future Ocean Foods Expands Membership, Welcoming 17 New Companies

Future Ocean Foods, the only global association dedicated to alternative seafood, has announced the addition of 17 new members to its growing network. The organization, which was established to promote food security, human health, environmental sustainability, and ocean conservation, now represents 53 companies across 17 countries. The new members include firms working in plant-based, fermentation, and cultivated food sectors. Marissa Bronfman, founder and executive director of Future Ocean Foods commented, “I am incredibly proud of the passionate, collaborative community we have built, and I am thrilled to welcome these 17 new innovative companies to our group. It’s an honor to work alongside so many brilliant, pioneering people working tirelessly to feed the planet and save our oceans.” Urgent need for sustainable protein sources There is …

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California's Mission Barns has redesigned single-cell suspension bioreactors to make them fit for cultivating meat at scale.

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Mission Barns Revamps Single-Cell Suspension Pharma Bioreactors to Scale Cultivated Meat Production

Cultivated fat startup Mission Barns has engineered a new bioreactor to optimize cultivated meat production, aiming to replace the single-cell suspension bioreactors traditionally used in the pharmaceutical industry. “We’ve invented a novel bioreactor that allows us to scale the production of cultivated meat, whether it’s pork, beef, chicken, fat, or muscle,” Mission Barns explains in conversation with Cultivated X. Founded in Berkeley by Eitan Fischer, former director of cellular agriculture at fellow US food tech company Eat Just, Mission Barns’ first product is a cultivated pork fat called Mission Fat, set to transform analogs with new heights of taste and texture. To produce it, the company has developed a technology platform that starts from non-GMO adherent cells and grows them using an animal-free cell culture medium. The “right …

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believer meats' cultivated chicken dish

© BELIEVER Meats

Believer Meats Study is “First” Demonstration of Cost-Efficient Manufacturing of Cultivated Meat

The continuous manufacturing of cultivated meat could address the associated scalability and cost challenges facing the industry, finds a new study published in the Nature journal conducted by Believer Meats founder Professor Yaakov Nahmias and a team at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. The research used a technology called tangential flow filtration, with a new bioreactor assembly that permitted biomass expansion to 130 billion cells per liter. This provided yields of 43% weight per volume. A new animal-free culture medium costing just $0.63 per liter was also used. The process involved cultivating chicken cells over a 20-day period, with daily biomass harvests. The researchers found that the method could significantly reduce the cost and complexity of cultivated meat production, potentially making cultivated products more accessible …

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Afonso-Gusmao and Diana Marques showing cultivated sea bass prototypes.

© Técnico Lisboa

Researchers at Técnico Lisboa Unveil Cultivated Sea Bass Filets 3D Printed with Microalgae Inks

Researchers at Técnico Lisboa, the School of Engineering, Technology, and Science at the University of Lisbon, have successfully produced cultivated sea bass filets using 3D bioprinting. The researchers claim their development as a world first. The first attempts produced thin sashimi slices, though current progress has led to fillets up to six centimeters thick, featuring the characteristic texture of sea bass as well as its aroma due to the microalgae-based bioinks used for bioprinting, explains Técnico Lisboa. The research in fish cultivation began in 2019 as part of a project for the Entrepreneurship curricular unit that aimed to develop fish for sushi. Since then, the research has continued in the laboratory of the Institute of Bioengineering and Biosciences (iBB), and the team has grown from four …

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Future of Foods Interviews Senara Foods

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Future of Foods Podcast: Svenja Dannewitz Prosseda, CEO of Senara, is Producing Cell-Cultivated Milk

Alex Crisp, host of Future of Foods, Interviews Svenja Dannewitz Prosseda, CEO and founder of German company Senara which is developing a better way of feeding the world. Senara says it is the first company in the EU to develop and produce cell-cultivated milk. Founded in 2022 in Freiburg by Dr. Svenja and Dr. Philipp Prosseda, Senara claims to have developed a cost-effective platform for cultivating “real” milk at a pilot scale. Instead of using animal samples, Senara selects the best milk cells and grows them in bioreactors through a continuous, high-throughput process that reduces production costs. The final product is real milk, not a plant-based alternative, which contains essential nutrients like lactose, casein, whey, and micronutrients. It’s also free from bacteria and yeasts and …

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UMAMI Bioworks and Shiok Meats, have merged to establish a combined entity that will bring cultivated seafood closer to commercial viability.

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Roundup: The Biggest News in Cultivated Meat and Seafood from the 1st Half of 2024

Although the cellular agriculture industry is traversing a consolidation phase and is facing the challenge of slower investor interest, the sector is building itself from the ground up, achieving all sorts of significant milestones — the first steps of what is set to become the fourth agricultural revolution. Here we look back on the biggest news stories in cultivated meat and seafood from H1 2024, and there have been several standout moments across different categories, as follows. Regulatory approvals France’s Gourmey became the first-ever company to apply to sell cultivated meat in the EU, marking a significant regulatory milestone. It submitted an application to EFSA for cultivated foie gras.  GOOD Meat announced the world’s first retail sales of cultivated meat in Singapore, making cultivated meat available for …

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Gourmey applies to sell cultivated meat in the EU

© GOURMEY and Romain Buisson

Gourmey Becomes First Company to Apply to Sell Cultivated Meat in the EU

Gourmey, a French startup producing cultivated foie gras, has become the first company to apply for regulatory approval to sell cultivated meat in the European Union. The startup has also submitted applications in Singapore, Switzerland, the UK, and the US. Before it goes on the market, the cultivated foie gras will need to be approved by the European Commission. Authorisation will be governed by the Novel Foods Regulation, said to be one of the most robust food safety frameworks in the world. The process is likely to take at least 18 months, and will include a thorough assessment of the safety and nutritional value of cultivated meat. The potential social, economic, and environmental impacts of the product will also be considered, with input from member …

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believer meats' cultivated chicken dish

© BELIEVER Meats

New Study On Morals Reveals Purity Trumps Harm in Attitudes Toward Cultivated Meat

A new study by psychology researchers from the UK and Australia surveyed 1,861 participants from the United States and Germany to explore how moral values relate to attitudes toward cultured meat. The authors explain that cultivated meat promotes less animal and environmental harm, aligning with the “harm/care” dimension of the Moral Foundations Theory, which emphasizes concern for the suffering of others and the desire to care for and protect people from harm. However, after three surveys, the researchers found that the “harm” dimension was unexpectedly weak in predicting favorable attitudes despite “harm” being a significant narrative in media and industry. The five moral foundations For the surveys, the researchers used the five moral foundations — harm, purity, fairness, loyalty, and authority — to predict attitudes …

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