Betagro, a Thailand-based meat industry heavyweight, has invested in cultivated-meat company Meatable.
The investment, which comes from Betagro’s corporate venture capital arm Betagro Ventures, has been heralded by Netherlands-based Meatable as a “landmark achievement”, being the first meat company in Asia to invest in the business, which creates cuts of meat in a lab from animal cells.
Just Food has asked Meatable for further details of Betagro’s investment.
Meatable suggested the deal reinforces its “mission to reshape the future of protein production as global demand for meat continues to rise”.
The Dutch company claims to have developed “groundbreaking cell-based technology, which is capable of producing high-quality pork and beef that mirror the taste, texture, and nutritional profile of conventionally produced meat”.
It uses Opti-ox, a patented proprietary stem cell technology, to develop the animal cells in a lab.
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Meatable said the collaboration with Betagro will accelerate its growth and market entry into Asia and opens the door to potential co-development projects.
Jeff Tripician, CEO of Meatable, said: “This investment is not just a testament to the potential of our cultivated meat technology but also a strong indication that established food leaders like Betagro are willing to champion innovation for a sustainable future.
“With its deep understanding of the Asian market and extensive network, we are confident that this partnership will significantly enhance our ability to bring cultivated meat to tables across Asia.”
Chayadhorn Taepaisitphongse, managing director of Betagro Ventures, said: “Betagro Ventures’ investment into Meatable represents our group’s commitment to innovation and driving sustainable change across the food industry.
“We firmly believe in the underlying technology and vision of Meatable, and look forward to partnering with the company to bring cultivated meats to consumers across south-east Asia.”
Late last year, Meatable, which produces pork sausages and dumplings from pig cells, said it had taken an important step towards commercialising its lab-grown products after opening a new facility in its home market.
The 3,300 square metre site at the Bio Science Park in Leiden doubled the size of its previous offices and lab space and means the company can increase its bioreactor capacity from 50 to 200 litres, and later to 500l, to step up testing and production.
