South Korea

© INTAKE
Investments & Finance

South Korea’s INTAKE Secures $9.2M for Alt Proteins Made With Yeast-Based Precision Fermentation

INTAKE, a South Korean food tech company using yeast-based precision fermentation to produce alternative proteins, has raised KRW 13.5 billion (US$9.2 million) in Series C funding. The round was led by CJ Investment, HB Investment, Woori Venture Partners, KDB Industrial Bank Capital, J Curve Investment, and Wonik Investment Partners. INTAKE plans to use the funding for R&D and global infrastructure expansion for its microbial-based alternative protein business. Super-protein yeast strain INTAKE uses precision fermentation-based yeast cultivation to produce protein powders, which serve as a foundation for alternatives to meat, dairy, and eggs. By taking naturally occurring yeast from domestically grown grapes and enhancing it through adaptive evolution, the company has developed a super-protein yeast strain said to contain 1.5 times more protein than conventional yeast. …

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Simple Planet medium

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Cultivated, Cell-Cultured & Biotechnology

Simple Planet Moves Closer to Halal Certification with New Serum-Free Technology

Seoul-based startup Simple Planet announced the will pursue Halal certification for its cell-based food products, as part of its strategy to tap into the global Halal market. This initiative comes on the heels of a recent collaboration with the Halal Science Center (HSC) at Chulalongkorn University in Thailand, formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed last month. The partnership hopes to facilitate the certification process for cell-based products and expand their reach in Halal markets worldwide. Development of serum-free culture medium In addition to this collaboration, Simple Planet has developed an edible, serum-free culture medium using probiotics-derived metabolites, which is seen as a critical step toward meeting Halal certification requirements. Probiotics-derived metabolites are naturally free from Haram substances, making them a suitable and permissible …

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TissenBio Farms

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Investments & Finance

South Korea Invests $10M in New Cultivated Meat Research Center

South Korea is investing US$10 million (₩14.5 billion) in the construction of a new cultivated meat research center in Uiseong County, North Gyeongsang Province. This includes around $3.6 million in state funding, with the remainder provided by the county and province. The capital will be deployed over a three-year period extending from 2025 until the expected completion of the facility in 2027. Claimed to be the first of its kind in the country, the three-floor center will span 2,663 square meters, providing resources to help companies with research, regulatory approval, and commercialization. This will include infrastructure for mass cultivation, prototype production, and full-cycle industrialization. There are plans for the facility to build a system capable of producing up to 100 kilograms of cultivated meat per …

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Simple Planet signs MoU with Halal Science Center Chulalongkorn University

Image: Simple Planet on LinkedIn
Company News

Simple Planet Plans to Achieve Halal Certification After Signing MoU With Halal Science Center Chulalongkorn University

South Korean biotech startup Simple Planet has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Halal Science Center at Thailand’s Chulalongkorn University. Through the partnership, Simple Planet and the Center will conduct joint halal science and technology research. They will also share laboratory and human resources, organizing joint academic activities such as conferences and seminars in halal science and technology. The collaboration signifies Simple Planet’s commitment to establishing halal Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) production facilities and achieving halalcertification for its cultivated functional food ingredients. The project aims to ensure that cultivated products will be accessible to the world’s global Muslim population, which includes over 1.9 billion people. “Simple Planet is committed to becoming the first biotech startup to integrate halal standards into the rapidly evolving …

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Simple Planet makes cultivated meat powder for f&&B applications

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Cultivated, Cell-Cultured & Biotechnology

Simple Planet Unveils Serum-Free Cell Culture Medium, Slashing Costs by 99.8%

South Korea-based alternative protein company Simple Planet has announced the development of a patented, serum-free cell culture medium designed for use in cell-based food production, biopharmaceuticals, and regenerative medicine. The medium, created through probiotics recycling, is expected to launch globally in 2025. According to the company, the formulation could reduce production costs by over 99.8% compared to conventional media. By replacing fetal bovine serum (FBS) with probiotics-derived metabolites, the medium eliminates ethical concerns and the high costs associated with animal-derived components. Successful trials & enhanced cell growth The new cell culture medium has undergone successful trials in collaboration with global research institutions and innovation centers. Testing has demonstrated that the formulation enhances myoblast cell proliferation while maintaining normal cell morphology, positioning it as a potential …

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Simple Planet's cultivated meat

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Cultivated Meat

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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Company News

Pureture and Kangwon National University Launch Research Center to Innovate Non-GMO Yeast-Derived Proteins

New York startup Pureture, a developer of animal-free ingredients with a focus on alternative casein proteins and high-functionality yeast strains, has partnered with South Korea’s Kangwon National University to establish the “Alternative Protein Research Center.” The center aims to develop innovative solutions at scale for the global alternative protein market, explains the startup in an announcement this Wednesday. This new joint initiative will leverage the University’s expertise in fermentation science and Pureture’s R&D capabilities to produce highly functional proteins derived from non-GMO yeast. Pureture has already developed a plant-based casein that is said to offer a complete amino acid profile and melting and stretching functionalities of milk caseins. Rudy Yoo, CEO of Pureture, shared, “The development of high-functionality proteins derived from non-GMO yeast is at …

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Millennial Flavor Town debuts waygu beef steak in Europe at London Expo.

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Products & Launches

Wagyu Beef Steak ‘Masterpiece’ by Korea’s Millennial Flavor Town Premieres at PBWE Europe

Korea’s Millennial Flavor Town, a food startup aiming to redefine barbeque with fermentation and plants, is introducing its wagyu beef line — MM Beef — at the Plant Based World Expo Europe in London. The range includes two products: marbled wagyu beef steak and shredded beef, in soy sauce and truffle flavors, which have been featured in media outlets, including The New York Times. Described as “a masterpiece boasting a rich heritage and a fusion of flavors that redefine the essence of beef,” the products have been crafted by co-founder, food technologist, and chef Bakrin Ahn and her team. Traditional Korean fermentation Millennial Flavor Town uses a patented method based on traditional Korean fermentation and a blend of ingredients: soybeans, hedgehog and button mushrooms, rice koji, …

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umami meats' fish ball dish

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Company News

UMAMI Bioworks to Establish South Korea’s First Cultivated Seafood Facility Through Strategic Partnership

UMAMI Bioworks (previously Umami Meats) continues to expand its footprint across Asia to offer sustainable solutions to the growing demand for seafood products. Today, the Singaporean company announces a strategic partnership with South Korean biotechnology firm KCell Biosciences and bioprocess solutions provider WSG to establish a scalable production pipeline for cultivated seafood in South Korea. The parties also intend to co-invest in a GMP-compliant hub facility to produce cultivated eel and other seafood species. The collaboration will leverage UMAMI Bioworks’ seafood cultivation technology, KCell Biosciences’ competitively priced cell culture media, and WSG’s bioprocessing hardware and bioreactor systems to expedite the introduction of products. UMAMI Bioworks CEO Mihir Pershad comments, “With WSG and K-Cell’s history of delivering high-quality bioprocess equipment and culture media, we will work …

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South Korea's TissenBioFarm announces it has won the "Cultured Meat Product of the Year" in the 2024 AgTech Breakthrough Awards.

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Company News

Marbled Cultivated Meat by TissenBioFarm Wins AgTech Breakthrough Award

South Korea’s TissenBioFarm announces it has won the “Cultured Meat Product of the Year” in the 2024 AgTech Breakthrough Awards. The cultivated meat startup says that the award recognizes the impact of its low-cost, scalable technologies for producing cultivated meat. AgTech Breakthrough is a market intelligence organization that acknowledges top companies, technologies, and products in the agricultural and food industry. Bryan Vaughn, Managing Director of AgTech Breakthrough, shared, “TissenBioFarm is creating a future where people, the environment, and animals are safe. This era of agriculture and food technology marks the next major period of sustainable future foods, but the low scalability and high costs of producing cultivated meat have caused a gap in the industry. The solution lies within sustainable and scalable technologies used for production.” …

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Armored Fresh Melty Vegan Cheeses

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Company News

Armored Fresh Files Patent for Plant-Based Grated Cheese, Vegan Parmesan Arriving This Fall

Zero-dairy food tech company Armored Fresh, known for its fermented almond and oat-based cheeses, continues to innovate in manufacturing to create products that rival the taste and texture of traditional dairy cheese. The South Korean company operating in the US announces that it has filed a new patent for a technology that mimics the process of grating traditional hard-aged cheese. Instead of using the standard spray-drying process for grated plant-based cheese, which involves a liquid mixture that is then atomized into particles, the food tech company creates cheese blocks and physically grates them. This method achieves a more authentic taste and texture, explains the company. Rudy Yoo, founder and CEO of Armored Fresh, shares, “With this patented process, Armored Fresh will continue to prove that …

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Sales of plant-based Melona ice cream bars in H1 2024 in Europe exceeded three times last year's sales.

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Sweets & Snacks

Binggrae’s Plant-Based Melona Ice Cream Bars Achieve Triple Sales Growth in Europe

South Korea’s Binggrae, a manufacturer of ice cream, milk products, and snacks since 1967, has developed a dairy-free version of its iconic honeydew Melona ice bars, aiming to expand to other dynamic markets besides the USA. Australia, Canada, and Europe maintain high non-tariff barriers for imported dairy products, posing significant challenges to foreign companies. To streamline its entry into these markets, Binggrae revamped Melona’s recipe by using oats to replace skimmed milk while maintaining the sweet’s unique flavor. Binggrae expanded overseas in 1995, first arriving in Hawaii and becoming a household brand. However, it was not until 2016 that the company opened a US branch in San Francisco, selling ice cream bars, pints, and mochi. According to the manufacturer, Melona is America’s favorite Korean ice …

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Dominic Jeong speaking

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Interviews

Simple Planet: “It is a Way to Maintain Biodiversity Through Cell Culture and Reduce the Burden on the Earth”

South Korea’s leading cultivated meat company, Simple Planet, says it thrives on “leading the cell-based foods industry by reshaping food production platforms for the next generations”. Founded in 2022, the company has developed specialized cell lines from beef, pork, seafood, and chicken, and focuses on induced pluripotent stem cells “as an unlimited cell source for cell-based foods”. Simple Planet’s products include a high protein cultivated meat powder, animal fat paste, and customizable raw materials. After raising $6 million in an oversubscribed pre-series A round this February, Simple Planet was selected to participate in an ₩11 billion national project launched by South Korea’s government to expand the food tech industry, with plans to produce a cultivated fish cake.  We caught up with co-founder & CEO Dominic …

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SUJIS LINK

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Company News

South Korea’s SUJIS LINK Secures Investment from Samyang Foods to Scale Meat Analog Technology 

Food technology company SUJIS LINK has secured a strategic investment of ₩3 billion (around $2.5M) from Samyang Foods, following a business agreement between the two companies last November to foster active collaboration in the South Korean alternative protein sector. Founded in 2016, SUJIS LINK initially focused on conventional processed meat products and became the first company in Korea to implement High Moisture Meat Analog (HMMA) mass production technology from Swiss plant equipment manufacturer Bühler Group. The company’s focus has since shifted towards the development and production of plant-based meats. Jinwon Lim, Deputy CEO of SUJIS LINK, outlined the company’s plans: “With this investment from Samyang Foods, we plan to introduce various new products using plant-based proteins to both domestic and international markets in the second …

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Unlimeat Korean BBQ_Bulgogi pack shot

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Retail & E-Commerce

UNLIMEAT Rolls Out 5 “K-Vegan” Products into GIANT and MARTIN’S Stores as Korean Food Surge Continues

Plant-based food brand UNLIMEAT, producer of popular “K-Vegan” products from upcycled, discarded vegetables, has launched five of its products into 149 GIANT and MARTIN’S stores in the USA, as the surge of interest in Korean food continues worldwide. Following the brand’s retail partnership with Sprouts Farmers Market earlier this month whereby its BBQ products launched into around 400 Sprouts stores, this latest expansion brings further Korean-style plant-based cuisine to the US market. The company has a US office base as well as its Korean HQ and launched an online store last November. In interview with vegconomist last year, founder and then-CEO Keum Chae Min explained the brand’s strategy and MO: “We believe that the alternative meat market will continue to stagnate unless it also focuses …

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Simple Planet's cultivated meat

© Simple Planet
Cultivated Meat

Bio Future Food Industry Association Launches in South Korea to Boost the Cultivated Meat Sector

The Bio Future Food Industry Association has launched in South Korea to support and develop the country’s cultivated meat sector. Established under the Korean biotechnology Industry, the new association boasts participation from 32 members, including the cell ag companies Simple Planet, SeaWith, CellQua, and TissenBioFarm and established food giants like Daesang and CJ CheilJedang. The Association plans to serve as a communication channel with relevant government agencies, hold regular seminars, build a global network, and promote cooperation programs among member companies. The aim is to enhance the country’s competitiveness in the global cultivated meat market. Uniting efforts The inaugural meeting was held at the COEX convention center in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, where Simple Planet’s CEO, Dominic Jeong, was elected as the inaugural chairman. Jeong holds a Ph.D. …

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South Korea’s plant-based foods producer Pulmuone has signed a business agreement with with ABB Korea Robotics, a leading company in automation and robotics to develop cultivated fish technologies.

© Pulmuone

Cultivated Seafood

Pulmuone Announces New Collab to Streamline Cultivated Seafood Using AI Robotics

South Korean plant-based foods producer Pulmuone has signed a business agreement with ABB Korea Robotics, the local corporation of Switzerland’s ABB, to develop cultivated seafood. The collaboration aims to automate the cultivation process for seafood using ABB’s robotics technology, with a target of mass-producing cultivated seafood products by 2026. According to the announcement, the companies hope to spearhead research and development in AI robotics for cellular agriculture. At the same time, Pulmuone expects this partnership to be the world’s first to apply AI robotic automation to cultivated meat production. Both companies will focus on several areas, including the robotic automation of the seafood cell cultivation process, enhancing production efficiency, protecting intellectual property, sharing research facilities and equipment, and exchanging specialized personnel. Key representatives from both …

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Dominic Jeong, CEO of Simple Planet.

CEO Dominic Jeong © Image courtesy of Simple Planet

Company News

Simple Planet to Develop Cell Ag Technologies Under South Korea’s National Project for Food Tech

Cultivated meat ingredients developer Simple Planet announces that it has been selected to participate in an ₩11 billion national project launched by South Korea’s government to expand the food tech industry. The national project involves various individual projects led by different governmental institutions, including the Korea Institute of Planning and Evaluation for Technology in Food, Agriculture and Forestry (IPET), the Korea Agriculture Technology Promotion Agency (KOAT), and the Korea Institute of Marine Science and Technology Promotion (KIMST).   As Simple Planet explained to Cultivated X, the company will be developing cell ag technologies for different purposes: The first project under the umbrella of KOAT’s agri-food venture nurturing program will focus on cultivated foods to replace animal-derived ingredients. A second activity involves establishing pluripotent stem cell lines and differentiation and …

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A pizza with animal-free mozzarella

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Cheese Alternatives

New Culture Partners with CJ CheilJedang to Streamline Costs of Animal-Free Mozzarella

Californian animal-free cheese producer New Culture announces a partnership with its previous investor, South Korean biotech giant CJ CheilJedang. New Culture develops casein from precision fermentation to make cow-free cheeses that melt, stretch, bubble, brown, and taste like conventional cheese without the lactose, cholesterol, hormones, and antibiotics found in milk.  The partnership will focus on reducing the production cost of New Culture’s casein to obtain a competitive price for its first product, animal-free mozzarella for pizzerias. Seung June Choi, Senior Vice President of Strategic Planning at CJ CheilJedang, comments, “Since our initial investment in New Culture in 2022, the CJ CheilJedang team has continued to be impressed by the company’s technical progress, robust bioprocess, and global ambition in the animal-free dairy industry.” Expertise to fuel …

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Cultivated Meat

South Korea Designates Regulation-Free Zone for Cultivated Meat to Boost Production & Safety

The South Korean government has announced the designation of a special regulatory-free zone in Gyeongsangbuk-do province to accelerate the production and commercialization of cultivated meat in the country. The zone, officially named the Gyeongbuk Cell-Cultivated Foods Regulatory-Free Special Zone (RFSZ), aims to address the legal obstacles facing the development of cell culture food products, establish global standards for these novel foods, and develop a skilled workforce for the cultivated meat industry. The cultivated meat RSFZ will be operational for the next five years (until December 2028) with a budget of ₩19.9 billion ($14.4 million) as reported by local media. Demonstrating safety Ten companies, including SeaWith, TissenBioFarm, and DaNAgreen, will demonstrate the commercialization of cultivated meat, backed by R&D funding and tax breaks. Their goal will be to use cells from livestock …

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