Australian Government Backs Magic Valley with $100K to Advance Cultivated Meat
Australian cultivated meat company Magic Valley has received a $100,000 grant from the federal government’s Industry Growth Program (IGP). The funding, part of a broader $400 million initiative, is intended to help startups expand into fully operational enterprises. Magic Valley is known for its animal component-free cultivated meat, produced using induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). This technology enables continuous cell growth without the use of fetal bovine serum, something that …
Vow Reduces Workforce by One-Third as It Seeks Fresh Investment Amid Regulatory and Market Challenges
Sydney-based cultivated meat startup Vow has announced the layoff of 25 employees, accounting for nearly a third of its workforce, as the company seeks to secure new funding to extend its operational runway into 2027. Startup Daily reports that the redundancies, described as a “painful but necessary decision” by CEO George Peppou, reflect the broader challenges faced by startups operating in the cultivated meat sector, which requires navigating complex regulatory …
Public Consultation Seeks Feedback on Potential Approval of Cultivated Quail in Australia
Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has opened a second round of public consultation regarding the regulatory approval of cultivated quail as a food. The application has been submitted by Australian cultivated meat company Vow, which hopes to use cultivated quail cells in conjunction with other ingredients to make products such as logs, rolls, and patties. FSANZ previously concluded last year that cultivated quail is safe to eat, following a …
All G Secures China’s First Approval for Animal-Free Lactoferrin
Australia’s All G (previously All G Foods), which is now focused on precision fermentation-derived milk proteins, announces it has received regulatory approval to sell animal-free lactoferrin in China. All G claims to be the country’s first company globally to reach this significant milestone for a recombinant bovine lactoferrin protein. All G, founded in 2020 by CEO Jan Pacas in Sydney, develops high-value, animal-free, and human proteins for functional foods, medical …
Precision Fermentation Industry Could Generate $30B Annually for Australia, Says New White Paper
Australia’s Food and Beverage Accelerator (FaBA) has released a new report exploring the challenges, economic impact, and sustainability of the country’s precision fermentation industry. More than 70 authors from industry, government, and academia contributed to the white paper, highlighting precision fermentation as a crucial technology to transform the food system with tailored and sustainable proteins, fats, and other compounds beyond alternative proteins. The comprehensive paper outlines key recommendations to boost …
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 …
Cauldron Ferm to Develop Asia-Pacific’s Largest Precision Fermentation Facility Following Queensland Government Support
Australia’s Cauldron Ferm announces that the Queensland Government, through its Industry Partnership Program (IPP), will support the development of the ‘Cauldron Bio-fab’, a precision fermentation facility in Mackay. The facility will be the first and largest end-to-end contract manufacturer for bioproducts in Asia-Pacific, with a projected annual output of over 1,000 tons. It will deploy Cauldron’s hyper-fermentation technology for cost-effective and resource-efficient production of alternative proteins and widely used petrochemicals for …
Cellular Agriculture Australia Calls for Clearer and Verifiable Impact Metrics for Cell-Based Foods
The cellular agriculture industry faces pressure to communicate its impact potential to policymakers, investors, and consumers. However, most impact claims companies make are often aspirational, reflecting an industry at scale that may not align with short-term or medium-term realities. Vague and ambiguous claims such as “future-friendly,” “planet-friendly,” “kinder,” “cleaner,” and “clean”; metrics such as “animal lives saved” or “deaths avoided,” which are difficult to verify; and specific claims such as …
Government Support Crucial for Australia to Become a Global Precision Fermentation Leader, Says New CAA Report
The non-profit Cellular Agriculture Australia (CAA) has released a new white paper highlighting Australia’s capabilities in producing precision-fermented ingredients and its potential to become a global leader. The country is already home to a precision fermentation ecosystem of startups, established companies, research institutions, mature investors, and manufacturing capabilities. Eden Brew, Daisy Lab (NZ), All G Foods, Eclipse Ingredients, Nourish Ingredients, the ASX-listed company Noumi, and CMDO Cauldron Ferm contribute to making Australia …
Cauldron Appoints Biotech Veteran to Spearhead Hyper-Fermentation Solution for Alternative Proteins
Contract manufacturer organization Cauldron Ferm announces the appointment of Solugen and BASF industry veteran David Weiner as new chief technology officer. Drawing on his extensive experience in product development and scaling innovative biotech solutions, Weiner will oversee the company’s technology R&D pipeline as the Australian company embarks on its next phase of global expansion. Cauldron, founded in 2022 in Borenore, New South Wales, has developed a precision fermentation technology that promises …