In the Netherlands, cultured meat startup Meatable has entered into a joint development deal with DSM to develop lower-cost growth media. Comprised of essential nutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins, sales, vitamins and growth factors, growth media is often cited as a key barrier to widespread consumption of lab-grown meat. Currently, it can account for as much as 90% of production cost.
‘’Protein is an essential part of a balanced diet and vital for good health. Yet its production has a big environmental footprint. With the world population expected to grow to 10 billion people by 2050, a wide variety of solutions for more sustainable proteins will be needed. Cultivated meat is one of those promising, innovative protein solutions in which DSM invests,” Wim Klop, Vice President DSM Biotechnology Center, says in a press statement. “In addition to focusing on the cost-effective production of growth media, DSM and Meatable will focus on the development of meat-like taste and texture of the final product, which are important factors influencing the purchase decision of consumers.”
DSM Venturing, the venture capital arm of Royal DSM, participated in Meatable’s recent $47-million Series A funding.