December is done (as 2024), and while many were busy roasting chestnuts and glazing hams, cultivated meat enthusiasts savored a very different kind of holiday feast—think quail parfaits and lab-grown chicken tastings. This month in cultivated meat brought a mix of culinary experimentation, regulatory debates, and cutting-edge research. Let’s dive into what’s sizzling in the bioreactor this December.

December’s cultivated meat buzz kicked off with an ethical twist as the Vegan Society weighed in on whether lab-grown meat can align with vegan principles. Their report highlighted the potential of cultivated meat to reduce animal suffering but acknowledged the ethical and environmental challenges still to overcome. Meanwhile, Nucleate’s Cultivate Tomorrow Hackathon invited students worldwide to innovate within the cellular agriculture space, showing how the next generation is gearing up to shape the industry. On a lighter note, quirky flavors like quail parfait captured imaginations, emphasizing the creative potential of lab-grown products beyond traditional meat.

In the United Kingdom, Multus made waves by launching Proliferum B, an animal-free alternative to the controversial fetal bovine serum, a move that could dramatically lower costs and ethical concerns in cultivated meat production. Not far away, Oxford’s Ivy Farm showcased its growing prowess in turning cells into steaks, reaffirming the UK as a key player in the space. Across the globe, India’s Biokraft Foods held the nation’s first cultivated chicken tasting, a milestone event drawing attention from major animal welfare groups. Meanwhile, French firm Gourmey added a dash of sophistication by forming a culinary advisory board featuring Michelin-starred chefs to refine lab-grown gastronomic delights.

In the market landscape, an eye-opening study revealed that environmental concerns remain low on the list of factors influencing American meat choices, highlighting a disconnect between consumer awareness and industry goals. Asia, however, told a different story, with biotechnology startups seeing a surge in investment thanks to supportive government policies. In Europe, reports emphasized the growing necessity of alternative proteins to address the planet’s swelling food demands, projecting cultivated meat as a cornerstone of sustainable food systems. Simultaneously, industry leaders like Vow are exploring luxury positioning for cultivated products, redefining perceptions of lab-grown meat as exclusive, high-end offerings.

Regulation took center stage as Food Standards Australia New Zealand conducted its second public consultation on cell-cultured quail, a potential first for the region. In India, discussions focused on streamlining regulatory pathways to make cultivated meat more accessible for startups, reflecting a global push for smoother commercialization processes.

Microbiological safety emerged as a critical area of focus, with industry surveys revealing an 11.2% batch failure rate due to contamination. Researchers stressed the need for improved monitoring systems to ensure both consumer safety and production efficiency. This emphasis on hygiene and safety protocols highlights an essential, if less glamorous, aspect of cultivated meat’s journey from lab to table.

See you next month!

News

Cultivated Meat 2024: Growing Steaks and Growing Pains December 30, 2024
What were the highlights of 2024 for cultivated meat sector? There are so many ways to choose and, to be honest, it’s impossible to create such a list without some bias. That’s why we’ve chosen to listen to you and classify our 2024 news based on your clicks! Simple, efficient… Read more: Cultivated Meat 2024: Growing Steaks and Growing Pains

The future of lab-grown meat is a little weird. Quail parfait, anyone? December 26, 2024
Do we really need to know that a literal chicken, pig, or cow died to provide that ineffable quality? Or can we be content, as long as we can still have those complex flavors, to find them wherever they are? That’s where Vow’s products stand to have the most immediate… Read more: The future of lab-grown meat is a little weird. Quail parfait, anyone?

Vegan Society decides: Is cultivated meat vegan? December 22, 2024
The Vegan Society, a UK-based charity dedicated to providing information and guidance on veganism, recently released a research briefing outlining the current status of cultivated meat around the world as well as positions on its ethics, environmental impacts and limitations. In the paper, the organization characterized its position on cultivated meat as… Read more: Vegan Society decides: Is cultivated meat vegan?

What Do Employers & Jobseekers Look for in Future Food Careers? December 6, 2024
One place career hopefuls can go to is AltProtein.Jobs, an AI-led jobseeking platform by German firm Tälist that connects employers in the space with prospective candidates.To identify hiring trends in the sector, Tälist has analysed tens of thousands of data points from job postings and candidate profiles on its website,… Read more: What Do Employers & Jobseekers Look for in Future Food Careers?

Cultivate Tomorrow Hackathon 2024 December 5, 2024
Nucleate Cultivate is now accepting applications for our 2024-25 Cultivate Tomorrow Hackathon!!🥳To all the cellular agriculture STUDENT fans around the world—no matter your location, experience, major, or age—come join us for an exciting and immersive experience in the cell ag space! 🎉🌱 Source: Cultivate Tomorrow Hackathon Application Form 2024

Companies and key players

Multus launches animal-free fetal bovine serum alternative for cultivated meat production December 26, 2024
UK – Multus, a biotechnology company based in the United Kingdom, has introduced Proliferum B, a serum replacement designed to enhance cultivated meat production. The product eliminates the need for fetal bovine serum (FBS), a costly and ethically controversial material traditionally used in cell culture. Proliferum B is the first… Read more: Multus launches animal-free fetal bovine serum alternative for cultivated meat production

Inside Ivy Farm, the Oxford-based startup turning cells into steaks December 20, 2024
On the outskirts of Oxford, U.K. sits Ivy Farm Technologies. Only, it’s not a farm quite like we know it. Founded in 2019 as a spin out from the University of Oxford, the company produces lab-grown meat. Its headquarters house its laboratory and production facility. Source: Inside Ivy Farm, the… Read more: Inside Ivy Farm, the Oxford-based startup turning cells into steaks

CULT moves to acquire fungi protein producer December 19, 2024
CULT Food Science Corp., a food technology platform seeking to pioneer the commercialization of lab-grown meat and cellular agriculture, shared Dec. 11 that it intends to acquire The Better Butchers Inc. (TBB), a developer of meat alternatives. CULT has executed a binding letter of intent (LOI) to fully acquire issued… Read more: CULT moves to acquire fungi protein producer

Biokraft Foods hosts India’s first cultivated chicken meat tasting December 18, 2024
Indian biotech company Biokraft Foods has hosted the country’s first official tasting event for cultivated chicken meat in Mumbai. The event gathered leading representatives from PETA India, GFI India, CASMB, Brinc, YODA India, India Animal Fund, among others. Source: Biokraft Foods hosts India’s first cultivated chicken meat tasting | FoodBev… Read more: Biokraft Foods hosts India’s first cultivated chicken meat tasting

Gourmey establishes culinary advisory board December 16, 2024
French cultivated meat firm Gourmey announced Thursday that it has established a culinary advisory board boasting a total of eight Michelin stars. Made up of a trio of Michelin-starred chefs — Claude Le Tohic in the United States, Rasmus Munk in Denmark and Daniel Calvert in Japan — the advisory… Read more

Market, investment, prospective

Environment ranks low in motivating Americans’ meat choices December 27, 2024
A newly published study of Americans found environmental sustainability and animal welfare ranked at the bottom for importance on a list of factors in deciding their animal protein consumption. Published in the latest issue of the journal Appetite, the nationally representative sample of more than 1,200 US adults found 85%… Read more: Environment ranks low in motivating Americans’ meat choices

Asia biotechnology ecosystem responds to government support December 24, 2024
Investment in Asia biotechnology startups is on the rise, with those operating in the food, agriculture, bioenergy, and biomaterials spaces across the Asia-Pacific raising nearly $3.5 billion in the last three years, up over 140% against the three years prior.Much of this increase is down to local government policies supporting… Read more: Asia biotechnology ecosystem responds to government support

The Future for Cultivated Meat in Europe – SYSTEMIQ December 17, 2024
If global trends continue, meat consumption is set to grow significantly, with demand increasing by 30% by 2050. However, our food systems are already at capacity. We cannot feed the world’s growing population and protect the planet without fundamental change to the food industry. Alternative proteins are an important part… Read more: The Future for Cultivated Meat in Europe – SYSTEMIQ

When minimum isn’t viable; the case against MVP in foodtech December 13, 2024
In industries where physical goods, consumer expectations, and safety are key, a “right-first-time” philosophy is essential. Food tech, medical devices, and electric vehicles are just a few examples where a launch plan should involve a patient, quality-centered approach in order to lead to stronger brand loyalty and market acceptance. Source:… Read more: When minimum isn’t viable; the case against MVP in foodtech

Is the Future of Lab-Grown Meat in Luxury Products? December 1, 2024
Vow and its CEO, George Peppou, are angling cultivated meat as a luxury product — an unusual positioning for an industry where many founders are motivated by animal welfare and going toe-to-toe with mass-produced meat. But while growing meat in the lab still remains eye-wateringly expensive, Peppou is trying to… Read more

Laws, ethics and lobbies

Second call for comment on cell-cultured quail at Food Standards Australia New Zealand December 23, 2024
Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) is undertaking the second round of public consultation on an application to amend the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (the Code) to permit the use of cell-cultured quail as a food. This is the first cell-cultured food produced in Australia and assessed by FSANZ.… Read more: Second call for comment on cell-cultured quail at Food Standards Australia New Zealand

Cultivated Meat from Lab to fork: Will it be the future food of India? December 7, 2024
This article introduces the readers to the lab grown meat and how it is currently regulated by the food regulator in India. Also, touching upon certain regulatory considerations that may help the Indian startups to roll out cultivated meat with less regulatory hurdles. Source: Cultivated Meat from Lab to fork:… Read more: Cultivated Meat from Lab to fork: Will it be the future food of India?

Research

Cultivated meat microbiological safety considerations and practices December 31, 2024
This review discusses sources and vectors of microbial contamination throughout cultivated meat production, introduces industry survey data to evaluate current industry practices for monitoring and mitigating these hazards, and highlights future research needs. Industry survey respondents reported an average microbiological contamination batch failure rate of 11.2%. The most common vectors… Read more