Lab-grown meat holds the potential to redefine the food landscape. It's not merely a simulation of conventional meat's appearance and taste; it embodies real meat. This innovation ushers in an era of meat production that is more sustainable, hygienic, nutritionally superior, and ethically sound. Despite the extensive media coverage, the presence of lab-crafted meat on supermarket shelves has not yet materialized.
What then is the state of affairs with lab-grown meat in the year 2024? Are there any lab-grown meat firms that have achieved notable success?
Before we embark on reviewing this list, it's important to deepen our understanding of what cultured meat really is.
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Cultivated meat, developed from animal stem cells into muscle tissue, offers a sustainable alternative to traditional meat production by eliminating the need for animal slaughter. This method, less resource-intensive and environmentally damaging, significantly reduces the environmental impact, potentially decreasing greenhouse gas emissions by up to 92% and land use by up to 90% compared to conventional beef production.
Furthermore, its commercial production, likely antibiotic-free, promises a reduction in foodborne illnesses by lowering exposure to pathogens.
As per the report published by BIS Research, the cultured meat market is forecasted to grow from a valuation of $1.15 billion in 2024 to $3.81 billion by 2033, with a CAGR of 14.19%.
Offering efficiency over traditional farming, cultivated meat requires fewer resources and can mitigate pollution and eutrophication, highlighting its environmental and health benefits.
Headquarters: Rehovot, Israel
Founded: 2017
Founders: Didier Toubia & Prof. Shulamit Levenberg
Funding: $119.4 Million
To address the nutritional needs of the expanding global population and conserve natural resources, Aleph Farms initiated Aleph Frontiers. This deep tech incubator focuses on advancing cell-grown meat technologies and other innovative solutions. The company benefits from the guidance of a varied advisory board, including notable figures like Leonardo DiCaprio and Karen Nyberg, the 50th woman to travel to space.
Headquarters: Jerusalem, Israel
Founded: 2018
Founders: Stepan Snajdar & Yaakov Nahmias
Funding: $387.8 Million
Future Meat has surpassed expectations by achieving cost parity sooner than anticipated with its unique single-cell technology and serum-free media. Additionally, the company has attained cell densities tenfold higher than the industry norm. Following the receipt of the cell-grown meat sector's largest investment to date, Future Meat is poised to continue its trailblazing advancements in the field.
Headquarters: London, UK
Founded: 2017
Founder: Benjamina Bollag
Funding: $3.5 Million
The company focuses on bioprocess engineering and biomaterials, aiming to provide comprehensive solutions in the lab-grown meat sector. While specific methods remain confidential, Higher Steaks has revealed that their cell cultivation process is free from fetal bovine serum, potentially enhancing consumer acceptance. Their innovative cell culture techniques, which do not require the reprogramming of adult stem cells, may also facilitate easier access to the European market.
Headquarters: San Francisco Bay Area, US
Founded: 2019
Founders: Gabriel Levesque-Tremblay & Patricia Bubner
Funding: $5.2 Million
The company is crafting a novel narrative in farm-to-table dining, concentrating on heritage breed meats like lamb, elk, bison, and wagyu beef, setting it apart from its peers. Utilizing cutting-edge bioprocessing, Orbillion rapidly identifies and selects the best cell lines for large-scale food production. This approach allows them to produce cell-cultured meat 18 times faster and 10 times more cost-effectively than competitors, accelerating the journey to cost parity.
Headquarters: Durham, US
Founded: 2020
Founders: Carson Bone
Funding: $200K
The company uniquely combines cell-based technology with plant-based proteins to create hybrid turkey products that are flavorful yet devoid of traditional animal farming's drawbacks. Blue Ridge Bantam aims to introduce products like turkey fillets, ground turkey, and turkey fat to supermarket shelves soon. Their use of advanced scaffolding techniques ensures the proper assembly of tissue and fat cells, achieving the desired texture and taste.
Headquarters: Paris, France
Founded: 2019
Founders: Antoine Davydoff, Nicolas Morin-Forest & Victor Sayous
Funding: $57.8 Million
As France's pioneering lab-grown meat company, Gourmey is introducing a cultivated foie gras that pays tribute to French culinary traditions while looking towards a sustainable future. This product, known for its rich and buttery flavor, has already impressed many Michelin-starred chefs, high-end restaurants, and premium meat distributors. Currently focusing on foie gras and poultry, Gourmey is also exploring other lab-grown food innovations. Following their latest funding success, the company plans to establish a 46,000-square-foot facility for large-scale production of its cell-grown meats.
In April 2023, the Good Food Institute (GFI) published its esteemed State of the Industry Report, shedding light on the alternative protein sector. By the end of 2022, cumulative investments had reached approximately $3 billion in plant-based proteins, $4 billion in fermentation-derived proteins, and $8 billion in cultivated proteins.
At present, over 200 companies are operating in the cultivated meat sector. Although the brands highlighted earlier demonstrate that success is attainable, a significant number remain focused on research and development.
