Cultured meat has revolutionised the meat industry, driven by pioneering startups and supported by established industry giants. With advancements in cellular techniques, regulatory endorsements, and growing logistical costs, it has been poised to emerge as a scalable and resource-efficient alternative to conventional meat production, according to analytics company, GlobalData.
Kiran Raj, Practice Head of Disruptive Tech at GlobalData, said that cultured meat has emerged as a beacon of ethical and environmental standards drawn from cellular sources rather than traditional slaughter.
“Amid the pursuit of sustainable options, lab-grown alternatives take centre stage. Yet, achieving widespread acceptance hinges on aligning production costs with economies of scale,” said Raj.
GlobalData's Disruptor Intelligence Center has shed light on key market developments in the cultured meat sector.
Project Manager of Disruptive Tech at GlobalData, Shagun Sachdeva, added that escalating investments and relentless innovation have supported an obvious surge in sustainable and animal-free food solutions.
“Spearheaded by startups pursuing cost-effective production, this movement prompts food industry giants to pivot and tap into the burgeoning cultured meat market. With regulatory green lights in both Singapore and the United States, the cultivated meat sector is poised for exponential growth,” said Sachdeva.
Mzansi Meat (rebranded as Newform Foods), an Africa-based cultivated meat startup, rolled out a cost-efficient cultivated meat bioproduction platform in August 2023. CellX, a Shanghai-based cellular agriculture startup, began lab-grown meat trials in China, while Embrapa Swine and Poultry is developing a chicken breast fillet prototype.
The US Department of Agriculture gave its inaugural nod to cell-cultured meat from GOOD Meat and UPSIDE Foods in July 2023. Aleph Farms sought approval for cell-based meat in both the United Kingdom and Switzerland during the same month.
CDMO Extracellular, a United Kingdom-based cultivated meat-focused contract development and manufacturing organisation (CDMO), introduced budget-friendly cell banks without licensing or commercial constraints that targeted budding cultivated meat startups and scholars in June 2023.
MeaTech, an Israeli food tech venture, pioneered a multi-nozzle modular printing head in April 2022. This offered an eco-friendlier substitute to traditional animal farming, and minimised carbon footprint, water, and land use. This eradicated the need for animal slaughter.
“Currently, market players are optimistic about the success of lab-grown meat products. Yet, realisation hinges on a clear strategy, from universally accepted taxonomy to precise certification labels. Companies must also enhance customer experience, explore fresh distribution avenues, and amplify their social media presence to spotlight their offerings,” said Sachdeva.
