Japanese Scientists Develop Low-Cost Medium to Grow Muscle Cells Without Animal Serum
Japanese scientists have developed a new co-culturing system using rat cells and cyanobacteria to create a low-cost alternative to animal serum for cell growth. Fetal bovine serum has contamination risks and waste accumulation, and is very costly. In addition, it does not align with the promise of producing meat without killing animals. Rat liver cells can also secrete the proteins (growth factors) needed for muscle cell growth, providing a serum alternative …
Ohly Unveils Yeast-Based Bionutrients to Boost Fermentation in Alternative Proteins
Ohly, a German supplier of yeast derivatives and culinary powders for the food, biotechnology, and human and animal health industries, has introduced a new range of yeast-based bionutrients for fermentation processes used in cultivated meat, protein, cheese, and dairy alternatives. The bionutrients are described as “powerful tools” that act as nitrogen sources to achieve high yields, titers, and enhanced productivity, resulting in lower cost-in-use and high batch outputs. They contain a …
Investment Climate Podcast: Lewis Dunnigan of Bygen, How to Get Funded in 2024
In this podcast series, Alex Shandrovsky interviews investors about benchmarks for funding alt proteins in 2024 and uncovers the investment playbooks of successful climate tech CEOs and leading VCs. Podcast Host Alex Shandrovksy is a strategic advisor to numerous global food tech accelerators and companies, including alternative proteins and cellular agriculture leaders. His focus is on investor relations and post-raise scale for agrifood tech companies. Series 2, Episode 4: Lewis …
Naplasol Debuts Enhanced Mycoprotein Range Following Mycorena Acquisition
Naplasol, a Belgian-based protein manufacturer under the VEOS group, is launching its newly acquired Promyc mycoprotein line at the Food Ingredients Europe (FIE) event in Frankfurt next month. This marks a milestone for Naplasol following its August acquisition of the Swedish mycoprotein company Mycorena, which had halted the construction of its production facility and entered bankruptcy earlier this year. With the acquisition finalized, Naplasol has taken over the production of …
PoLoPo and CSM Ingredients Partner to Develop Price-Stable Egg Protein Powder for the Baking Industry
PoLoPo, a molecular farming startup that grows proteins in potatoes, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the global ingredient-tech company CSM Ingredients to develop egg protein powder for baking applications. Commercial baking uses ovalbumin, the main protein in egg whites, extensively in many products, from croissants to donuts. However, constant avian flu outbreaks are disrupting egg production and the supply chain, leading to rising egg prices and instability. The collaboration …
Meatable Celebrates Recognition on TIME’s Best Inventions of 2024 List
Dutch cultivated meat company Meatable has announced its inclusion on TIME’s prestigious Best Inventions of 2024 list. Meatable has been recognized for its opti-ox™ technology, which allows cultivated meat to be produced from a single sample of cells in a matter of days. The technology works by accelerating the cell differentiation process, allowing muscle and fat cells to be created much more efficiently than with other cell cultivation methods. This …
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 …
Enifer Breaks New Ground as First Nordic Firm to Seek Novel Food Approval for Mycoprotein
Finnish biotech company Enifer announces that it has applied for regulatory approval from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) to sell its flagship ingredient, PEKILO, in the EU. The company claims to be the first Nordic company to apply for a mycoprotein under novel foods. This regulatory step marks a significant milestone in the company’s commercialization efforts, which recently secured funding to build a €33 million production facility, scheduled for …
Revo Foods & Paleo Unveil €2.2M EU-Backed Project for Salmon Alternatives with Animal-Free Heme
Two alternative protein startups, Austria’s Revo Foods, a manufacturer of 3D-printed vegan seafood, and Belgium’s Paleo, a precision fermentation startup developing animal-free heme, have joined forces to advance sustainable and realistic seafood alternatives. In a project initiated earlier this year and funded by the European Union’s Eurostars program with €2.2 million, the companies are working to develop a “unique” animal-free salmon heme for Revo Foods’ 3D salmon fillet. Speaking to …
Suzi Gerber, Executive Director, AMPS: “Ultimately, Cultivated Meat Could Benefit Individual Health, Society, and the Planet”
Suzannah (Suzi) Gerber is the Executive Director of AMPS Innovation and is a senior food, nutrition, and behavior research scientist and a well-known chef. In this Q&A, Ms Gerber explains how the legal challenge to Florida’s ban on cultivated meat hinges on the Commerce and Supremacy Clauses of the U.S. Constitution and obstructs the FDA and USDA’s jurisdiction over food safety. Furthermore, a ruling overturning the ban could set a …