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 halal
certification 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 biotech and cultivated food industry,” said Mr. Dominic Jeong, the company’s CEO.
Cell lines from diverse species
Founded in 2021, Simple Planet specializes in cultivated food ingredients such as high-concentrate alternative protein powders and fats with high-unsaturated fatty acid content. The company has developed specialized cell lines from beef, pork, seafood, and chicken.
Simple Planet secured $6 million in an oversubscribed funding round last year, and the total amount it has raised now stands at around $8 million.
Earlier this month, Simple Planet announced the development of a patented serum-free cell culture medium that replaces fetal bovine serum (FBS) with probiotics-derived metabolites. The company claims the medium could reduce production costs by over 99.8%, while also eliminating the ethical concerns surrounding FBS.
“Our work supports biodiversity conservation by focusing on the protection, restoration, and sustainable management of both land and sea ecosystems,” Simple Planet told vegconomist in an interview last year. “By developing cell lines from diverse species, we contribute to reducing the pressure on livestock and fish farming and promote sustainable food production.”
