Tufts University's Cellular Agriculture Innovation Day 2025: Pioneering progress in cultivated protein

Tufts University’s Center for Cellular Agriculture (TUCCA) hosted its third annual Cellular Agriculture Innovation Day last week (9 January 2025), bringing together researchers, industry leaders, policymakers, and investors to address the challenges and opportunities within the field of cellular agriculture. Held at the Joyce Cummings Center in Medford, Massachusetts, the event featured dynamic panels, keynote addresses, and research presentations, culminating in a networking reception.

Opening the event, Tufts Provost, Caroline Genco, underscored the interdisciplinary nature of cellular agriculture and its importance to Tufts’ strategic vision. David Kaplan, TUCCA’s Executive Director, followed with a conversation alongside Bruce Friedrich, Founder of the Good Food Institute, emphasizing the growth in academic research and the need for continued collaboration despite current challenges in private investment.

“While the private sector is seeing contractions, governments and academic institutions are stepping up, recognizing the critical need for precompetitive research to sustain the industry,” Kaplan remarked. Friedrich hinted at insights from his upcoming book, drawing parallels between the cultivated meat sector and the electric vehicle industry, while noting China’s growing interest in alternative proteins as a promising global development.

Despite optimism, Kaplan acknowledged key challenges in scaling up production, scaffold development, and sensory evaluation. He praised the collaborative spirit within the field, calling it “unparalleled in its willingness to share knowledge to solve complex problems.”

Andrew Stout, Co-founder of Deco Labs and a Tufts alum, delivered a retrospective on the past century of cellular agriculture. He likened the current public perception of cultivated meat to a “trough of disillusionment” but reassured the audience that technological and development trajectories remain positive.

Panels throughout the event tackled critical topics. A session on funding, moderated by Deco Labs’ Natalie Rubio, featured insights from investors and industry players on de-risking university-developed technologies and fostering strong partnerships between startups and funders. Steven Finn of Siddhi Capital emphasized the importance of alignment between investors and companies, noting, “Successful partnerships drive not just funding but long-term innovation.”

Christina Agapakis of Oscillator led a lively panel on non-traditional applications of cellular agriculture. Panelists explored opportunities beyond traditional livestock, including the development of cultured peacock meat and hybrid plant/animal products, demonstrating the sector’s creative potential.

The event also showcased cutting-edge research from TUCCA faculty and collaborators. Notable highlights included:

Bovine Fat Cell Isolation: Deco Labs’ John Yuen Jr presented a novel protocol for growing bovine fat cells, bringing samples for attendees to experience firsthand.

‍Cultivated Fish Efforts: Michael Saad shared TUCCA’s work on serum-reduced media and hybrid products for fish species like mackerel, emphasizing the underexplored potential of aquatic proteins.

‍Insect Cells in Cultivated Meat: Sophia Letcher highlighted the efficiency of insect cells, which could revolutionize protein production for human and pet food markets.

‍Fat Cell Research: TUCCA’s Emily Lew discussed how cultivated fat cells enhance flavor, texture, and sensory qualities in alternative meat products.

‍Genetic Engineering for Cell Line Development: Camilo Riquelme Guzmán detailed efforts to optimize cell lines for faster proliferation and differentiation, essential for scalable production.

‍Media Development Innovations: Taehwan Lim presented advancements in cost-effective, serum-free cell culture media to lower production costs and achieve price parity with conventional meat.

Key panels addressed the societal and economic impact of cellular agriculture. Nicole Tichenor Blackstone and Alex Blanchette discussed just transitions for communities reliant on traditional livestock industries, emphasizing the importance of including farmers and workers in the conversation.

Yvonne Hao, Secretary of the Executive Office of Economic Development for Massachusetts, reflected on the field’s rapid progress. She highlighted the state’s US$2.1 million investment in TUCCA and the broader US$1 billion commitment to climate tech through the Mass Leads Act, signaling strong governmental support.

The event concluded with a panel on infrastructure, moderated by William Shaw. The discussion focused on TUCCA’s state-funded facility, FEAST, which will provide pilot-scale testing capabilities for startups, supporting upstream processing, downstream processing, and even product testing in a dedicated kitchen.

Cellular Agriculture Innovation Day 2025 underscored the collaborative nature of the cultivated protein sector and its potential to transform global food systems. As Professor David Kaplan aptly noted, “The future of cellular agriculture relies on shared knowledge, strategic investment, and a willingness to embrace innovation.”

With a packed agenda of thought-provoking discussions and promising research, the event affirmed TUCCA’s role as a leader in advancing the science and application of cellular agriculture. As the field continues to grow, events like these will remain essential to fostering collaboration and driving progress.