The “Demonstrating Scale-Up in Cultivated Food: A Biomanufacturing Conference” held in Penang highlighted that the cultivated protein sector is transitioning from scientific proof to industrialization, with its commercial success dependent on five interconnected factors. These critical areas are manufacturing competitiveness to achieve cost parity, systemic regulatory alignment across international jurisdictions to enable trade and clarity, securing diverse investment and financing to bridge long development phases, establishing robust consumer and cultural trust through transparent safety and religious certification (like halal), and developing the necessary human capital and knowledge ecosystems to sustain innovation and a skilled workforce. The consensus was that progress relies on a manufacturing-first approach, leveraging policy levers, and viewing the full transition in terms of decades rather than years.
Source: Cultivated Protein: Scaling Innovation into Industry – Malaysia SME®