Meatable’s mighty leap: $35 million funding to fast-track cultivated pork launch

By Team IO

Foodtech pioneer Meatable has secured a hefty $35 million funding to scale up and speed the commercial launch of their cultivated pork products. The investment, led by Agronomics and featuring new investor Invest-NL, will fuel Meatable’s ambitious plans. The company’s pioneering opti-ox™ technology and pluripotent stem cells allow them to produce cultivated meat on a large scale, 30 times faster than traditional farming methods.

With a firm focus on taste, sustainability, and affordability, Meatable aims to address the escalating global meat demand and reduce environmental impact. They’ve already whetted appetites with successful tasting events in Singapore and aim to make their products available from 2024, with plans for expansion into the US market. The funding round signals investor confidence in Meatable’s potential to revolutionize the cultivated meat industry. The company’s total funding so far has reached $95 million. 

Scaling production and accelerating the launch

With the recent influx of funding, Meatable is now poised to ramp up its production processes and bring its cultivated pork products to market sooner than anticipated. The funding will specifically be used to optimize the company’s innovative opti-ox™ technology and pluripotent stem cells, which enable the quick replication of the natural growth process of cells without harming animals.

Meatable’s technology allows for producing natural muscle and fat cells in just eight days – a significant leap from what traditional farming methods would require. This quick turnaround ensures that Meatable can meet the growing global demand for meat, all while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and land use.

A taste of the future

Meatable’s mission extends beyond merely producing meat alternatives. The Delft-based company is committed to crafting products that do not compromise on taste, thereby appealing to a broader market segment. Their cultivated pork products, including sausages and pork dumplings, are anticipated to hit selected restaurants and retailers in Singapore in 2024. The company is also establishing a presence in the United States. Recent regulatory developments have boosted confidence in the industry, with the USA approving two cultivated meat companies to start selling their products. The Netherlands recently became the first European country to give the green light for companies to organize tastings officially. 

Dutch Code of Practice for cultured meat tastings

Cultured meat and seafood can soon be tasted under limited conditions in The Netherlands. In collaboration with cultivated meat producers Meatable and Mosa Meat.

Krijn de Nood, co-founder and CEO of Meatable: “This is a huge sign of confidence in the incredible quality, taste, and proven scalability of our product, especially in the current investment climate. When 14% of the world’s global emissions come from the traditional meat industry, it’s clear that there needs to be an alternative that reduces the harm our diets are currently causing the planet. We believe cultivated meat is the answer and we are confident we have the tools and the processes in place to make this a reality. We look forward to working closely with our investors as we enter our next growth phase and cement our position as global leaders.” 

One sample of cells

To make its cultivated pork, Meatable takes one sample of cells from an animal without harming it and replicates the natural growth process of the cells using patented opti-ox™ technology combined with pluripotent stem cells. This technology makes it possible for Meatable to produce real muscle and fat cells in only eight days, 30 times faster than the time it takes to rear a pig for pork on the farm. Owing to this efficiency, Meatable has all processes in place to be able to scale cultivated meat production affordably and provide a genuine solution to this global, pressing problem.

First Mosa Meat cultured hamburgers to be served in a year, in Singapore

With the opening of a new pilot factory for cultured burgers on the edge of the Brightlands Maastricht Health Campus, Mosa Meat is taking a leap forward.

Addressing Environmental Concerns

While cultivated meat offers potential environmental benefits, including lower emissions, air pollution, water usage, and land requirements, there have been concerns about energy-intensive production processes. A recent study from UC Davis suggests that the environmental impact of cultivated meat may be higher than that of traditional meat due to these processes.

However, Meatable is confident that it has the technology and processes in place to address these challenges and reduce the environmental impact. The company remains committed to its goal of providing a sustainable, ethical, and tasty alternative to traditional meat.