“We are meat designers,” says the Mexican startup Forma Foods, which crafts cow-less meat using a patented 3D printing process called “chaotic printing.”
Grissel Trujillo de Santiago and Mario Moises Alvarez, two tissue engineering experts from the School of Engineering and Sciences at Tecnológico de Monterrey, founded a bioprinting company in 2017. Initially focused on cultivated meat, they developed the “chaotic printing” technique to bioprint musculoskeletal tissue using live mammal cells.
“We want to push the boundaries of what’s possible”
However, due to the high costs associated with animal cell-based processes, the founders decided to apply the technology to plant proteins. They officially established Forma Foods in 2022 with biotechnology engineer Li Lu Lam Aguilar as CEO, explains Tecnológico de Monterrey.
“Ultimately, we want to push the boundaries of what’s possible with innovative food technology,” says Trujillo, who is the startup’s CSO.
Replicating fibers and textures of beef
According to Forma Foods, the technology creates microstructures that mimic muscle, fat, and connective tissue, using ingredients like pea protein, oriental prebiotic fiber, and coconut oil.
As a result, its plant-based meat resembles traditional meat in texture, flavor, and appearance, allowing it to target vegans and those looking to reduce meat consumption for health, ethical, or environmental reasons. Nonetheless, instead of producing ground meat, the innovator focuses on replicating the fibers and textures valued in Mexican beef dishes, such as arrachera (hanger steak) and carne al pastor.
The company says it has received significant attention from the restaurant industry. Chef Rodrigo Rivera-Rio of Koli, a Michelin-starred restaurant in Nuevo León, Mexico, recently unveiled a new dish made with Forma Foods’ plant-based meat and has even requested a custom-shaped beet version of one of the company’s products.
The best carne asada and fajitas
Forma Foods says that it has made significant strides since its founding. Supported by Tecnológico de Monterrey and financial backing from Tec Ventures and Saya Bio, the company patented a specialized printhead in 2019.
In addition, it has successfully adapted its 3D printing technology to transform vegetable pastes into meat-like products cost-effectively and at scale. Moreover, “chaotic printing” has promising medical applications, such as organ bioprinting for transplants and alternatives to live animal testing.
Forma Foods says it is poised to make an impact with its sustainable and ethical alternatives to traditional meat, which help to address environmental concerns such as methane emissions, water consumption, and the ecological footprint of livestock farming.
The company shares on social media, “As proud Mexicans, we’ve designed the best carne asada and fajitas in the alt-protein world!”
