ORF Genetics, an Icelandic biotechnology company, and Australian novel food innovators Vow on February 12 announced the success of a “first of a kind” cultured meat tasting in Europe featuring gourmet dishes created from the cells of Japanese quail. Among those attending the event was Katrín Jakobsdóttir, the Prime Minister and acting Minister of Food, Fisheries and Agriculture of Iceland, who on the occasion enjoyed her first taste of cultivated meat.
The production of cultured meat, also known as cultivated meat, is being promoted as “significantly more sustainable than traditional farming.” The innovators at Vow are pioneers in this novel industry, developing methods to grow meat directly from animal cells. The nascent sector has the potential to provide high quality meat at scale with a minimal carbon footprint by emitting less greenhouse gases, and requiring less land and water than traditional livestock farming.
Growth Factors for Growing Market
While the market for cultured meat is still in the early stages of development, it is forecast to grow exponentially in the next few years and decades. A report by McKinsey predicts that it could reach $25 billion by 2030.
To meet anticipated demand, cultured meat producers will have to scale-up production fast. This is where ORF Genetics comes in, an innovator in developing a range of animal growth factors, based on its extensive work with bioengineering barley grain. The company has focused on expanding its portfolio of high quality, animal growth factors, as well as to scale-up production capacity to meet the needs of the cultured meat industry for a reliable supply of growth factors, which are critical components in cultured meat production.
“It is clear that our food systems need to change so that we can feed a population estimated to reach 9 billion in 2040,” said Jakobsdóttir. “Cultivated meat is one of the solutions to the climate challenge. The Icelandic authorities are determined to pave the way for the adoption of new solutions in Iceland, and we are eager to see the development of an EU regulatory framework for cultivated meat.”
Berglind Rán Ólafsdóttir, chief executive officer of ORF Genetics, added: “We are excited to bring this innovative, novel food product for this milestone tasting event here in Iceland, showcasing that not only is cultivated meat a more sustainable alternative to traditional meat – but that it is also a delicious one. ORF’s barley-grown growth factors allow cultured meat companies like Vow not only to grow but to rapidly scale-up its production to meet future-market demands.”
