Meatable secures €7.6 million Innovation Credit to accelerate cultivated pork production

Meatable, an innovative cultivated meat company from the Netherlands, has secured a €7.6 million Innovation Credit from the Netherlands Enterprise Agency. With the support of the Innovation Credit, Meatable plans to expand its production capabilities and accelerate the research and development necessary for scaling its technology. The company is targeting regulatory approval within the next few years, with the goal of launching its first products to the public shortly after.

The Innovation Credit comes on top of Meatable’s 2023 €30 million Series B funding round and will bring the company one step closer to fulfilling its vision of satisfying the world’s appetite for meat, without harming people, animals or the planet.

Daan Luining, Meatable’s Chief Technology Officer, emphasized the significance of the Netherlands Enterprise Agency’s €7.6 million Innovation Credit in accelerating their mission. "This funding allows us to further develop our technology and bring cultivated meat to market faster," he explained. He also highlighted Meatable’s commitment to sustainability. "We are working to create real meat without the need for animals, drastically reducing the environmental impact." Luining believes that Meatable’s products will be a game-changer in meeting global food demands sustainably.

The Netherlands Enterprise Agency's Innovation Credit program is designed to support promising, high-risk innovations by providing financial assistance to companies in sectors like health, energy, and agriculture. The €7.6 million credit awarded to Meatable will help the company overcome technological challenges in scaling its production process, bringing cultivated meat closer to market.

This financial support is part of a broader effort by the Dutch government to promote sustainable food production and innovation. The Netherlands has been a leader in supporting sustainable agriculture, and this credit highlights the country’s commitment to backing companies that align with environmental goals. The Innovation Credit will play a pivotal role in advancing Meatable’s mission of creating cultivated meat that can meet growing consumer demand while addressing critical sustainability concerns.

Meatable's focus on developing cultivated pork products, including its flagship sausage, marks a significant milestone for the company. Utilizing the proprietary opti-ox technology, Meatable can create muscle and fat cells from a single animal cell sample, resulting in real pork with the same taste and texture as traditional meat. In 2024, Meatable plans to introduce its first cultivated pork sausages to the market. Luining added, “Our goal is to offer a product that is indistinguishable from conventional meat but with a far lower environmental impact."

In addition to its pork product, Meatable achieved several key milestones in 2024. The company secured partnerships to build pilot production facilities and continues advancing toward regulatory approval in various markets. Luining said, “We’re excited to see our technology scale, and the Netherlands Enterprise Agency’s support will help us push the boundaries of sustainable food production."

Founded in 2018, Meatable is at the forefront of cellular agriculture, focusing on creating real meat from animal cells without the need for slaughter. The company's technology uses stem cells to cultivate meat in a laboratory setting. This method promises a more sustainable alternative to conventional meat production, which is resource-intensive and contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions.

With global demand for meat expected to rise, the environmental costs of conventional farming, such as deforestation, water use, and methane emissions, are becoming more critical issues. Meatable’s cultivated meat could provide a solution, offering the same taste, texture, and nutritional value as traditional meat but with a fraction of the environmental impact.