Ever After Foods and Bühler collaborate to develop scalable solutions for sustainable protein manufacturing

In a significant move to address global food security and sustainability challenges, Ever After Foods, a food technology innovator, has partnered with Bühler, a leader in food processing solutions, to mix things up a bit in the production of cultivated meat. This collaboration seeks to develop commercial-scale systems that enable efficient and cost-effective manufacturing of lab-grown meat, potentially transforming the protein industry.

The global population is projected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050, intensifying the demand for sustainable protein sources. Traditional livestock farming faces criticism for its environmental impact, including significant greenhouse gas emissions, extensive land use, and high water consumption. Cultivated meat, produced by culturing animal cells, offers a promising alternative that could mitigate these environmental concerns while meeting protein needs.

However, scaling up cultivated meat production to meet global demand presents substantial challenges, particularly in reducing production costs and achieving commercial viability. The partnership between Ever After Foods and Bühler aims to tackle these issues head-on.

Central to this collaboration is Ever After Foods' proprietary edible packed-bed (EPB) technology platform. This system is designed to cultivate various meat types, including beef, chicken, duck, and fish, by efficiently producing both muscle and fat tissues. The EPB platform enhances the nutritional profile and flavor of the final product, closely mimicking conventional meat.

Bühler brings its extensive expertise in food processing technologies to the partnership. The company aims to develop equipment and processes that facilitate market-ready, sustainable, and affordable cellular agriculture products. By integrating Bühler's engineering capabilities with Ever After Foods' innovative cultivation methods, the partnership seeks to create production systems that operate at a fraction of the scale required by existing technologies, thereby significantly reducing costs.

“The cultivated meat industry must move beyond relying on pharma-based technologies and adopt solutions specifically designed for food production,” commented Eyal Rosenthal, CEO of Ever After Foods. “Our strategic collaboration with Bühler, a global leader in food equipment, is a critical step toward delivering scalable and efficient technologies that empower cultivated meat producers and food companies to bring their products to market. Together, we are driving the development of tailored solutions to sustainably scale cultivated meat production.”

One of the primary obstacles to the widespread adoption of cultivated meat has been its high production cost. Early prototypes were prohibitively expensive; for instance, the first lab-grown burger, developed in 2013, cost approximately US$330,000 to produce. Since then, advancements in technology have dramatically lowered these costs. Companies like Mosa Meat have reported significant reductions, achieving an 88-fold decrease in production costs for their cultured meat medium as of 2020. Despite these advancements, further cost reductions are necessary for cultivated meat to compete with traditional meat products.

The Ever After Foods and Bühler partnership aims to reduce production costs by over 90%, making cultivated meat more accessible to consumers and competitive in the market. This cost reduction is anticipated to result from economies of scale, technological innovations, and optimized production processes.

Environmentally, shifting to cell-cultivated meat production could substantially decrease the negative impacts associated with conventional livestock farming. Studies suggest that cultivated meat could lead to reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, land use, and water consumption, contributing to more sustainable food systems.

While the collaboration holds promise, several challenges remain. Scaling up production from laboratory settings to industrial levels requires significant investment in infrastructure and technology development. Ensuring the consistency and quality of the cultivated meat products is another critical concern, as is obtaining regulatory approvals across different markets.

Consumer acceptance also plays a vital role in the success of cultivated meat. Public perception of cell-cultivated meat varies, with factors such as taste, price, and ethical considerations influencing acceptance. Transparent communication about the benefits and safety of cultivated meat is essential to build consumer trust.