Luyef (previously Luyef Biotechnologies), a biotech startup focused on cellular agriculture based in Santiago de Chile, has received two substantial grants totaling $1.25 million to accelerate cultivated meat production (detailed information about the grants below).
The Ganesha Lab, LATAM’s global biotech scale-up for science and technology-based startups, announced the investment. Kris Blanchard, a biotechnology engineer from the University of Chile, co-founded Luyef in 2020, participating in The Ganesha Lab’s accelerator program in 2022.
Luyef is developing technologies to scale cultivated meat production at industrial levels and uses precision fermentation to produce animal proteins. The company is commercializing a bovine myoglobin ingredient (heme) branded as TAMEE (The Authentic Meat-Eating Experience), designed to enhance the taste and color of plant-based and cultivated meat products.
According to Pitchbook, other investors backing Luyef include Sustainable Food Ventures, Big Idea Ventures, Corporación de Fomento de la Producción de Chile, and the Good Food Institute. Currently, the company seeks to close a $4 million seed round and has eleven employees. The Chilean startup was recently named one of Hello Tomorrow‘s Deep Tech Pioneers.

Alternatives to costly animal-derived components
The new capital from the grants will be used to develop thermostable growth factors and nutrient-rich media supplements by upcycling agro-industrial by-products. These innovations aim to replace costly additives and animal-derived components to boost the scalability of cultivated meat production while reducing costs and enhancing sustainability.
The Chilean Economic Development Agency (CORFO) awarded approximately $1 million to develop a cost-efficient and sustainable platform for producing more stable growth factors using protein engineering and precision fermentation.
“These projects represent a significant step forward in our mission of accelerating the transition towards a more sustainable and animal-free production system”
The Good Food Institute (GFI) provided a $250,000 grant to create an affordable, nutrient-rich media supplement using novel hydrolysates from lupin waste and lipid-producing yeast to replace conventional cell media. GFI explains that current hydrolysates used in the industry are too costly for large-scale production.
Dr. Blanchard shared, “These projects represent a significant step forward in our mission of accelerating the transition towards a more sustainable and animal-free production system.
“I also think that the support from CORFO underscores the Chilean government’s commitment to fostering emerging industries and high-risk technologies, which is always a good sign for the deep biotech community in the region.”