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Cell-based beef could be hitting Japan soon following a new partnership.
Aleph Farms, which creates slaughter-free steak made from cow cells, has collaborated with Mitsubishi Corporation’s Food Industry Group.
The partnership will see Aleph Farms provide its proven, scalable manufacturing platform for the cultivation of slaughter-free steaks. While Mitsubishi will provide expertise in biotechnology processes, branded food manufacturing, and local distribution channels.
Both companies have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to bring cultured meat ‘to the Japanese table’. However, no date has been set for when the products will be available to consumers.
‘An important milestone’
Didier Toubia is the co-founder and CEO of Aleph Farms. In a statement sent to PBN, he said: “The MuO marks an important milestone for us, as we methodically build the foundations of our global go-to-market activities with selected partners.
“The cooperation demonstrates Aleph’s strategy of working together with the food and meat industries to ensure successful integration of cultivated meat within the ecosystem – while maximizing the positive impact we make.
“We’re excited to bring cultivated meat production closer to the Japanese market.”
The two brands are now members of the ‘Cellur Agriculture Study Group – a consortium implementing policy proposals under the Japanese Center for Rule-Making Strategy.
The consortium ‘brings together a range of experts on the definition and construction of cellular agricultural foods. It also adds clarification of conditions for Japanese products and technologies to have international competitiveness and establishes mechanisms for coexistence and division of roles with existing industries’.
Carbon neutrality
The announcement shortly follows Japan’s commitments to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga revealed the country’s ‘green growth strategy earlier this year.
It aims to eliminate sales of new gasoline-powered cars and replace them with electric vehicles. Additionally, it aims to ‘clean up sea-going vessels’ by opting for cleaner fuels such as hydrogen and ammonia.
By 2030, the country expects all new buildings to be built without zero emission technology.
“Taking an aggressive approach to global warming will bring about a transformation in our industrial structure and economic system that will lead to big growth,” Suga said.
Cell-based beef
Last year, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described cell-based steak from Aleph Farms as ‘delicious and guilt-free’.
In a statement sent to PBN, Netanyahu said: “It’s delicious and guilt-free, I can’t taste the difference.
“I have directed the State Secretary Tzahi Braverman to appoint a body to serve these industries in order to connect and oversee all the stakeholders operating in this field. Israel will become a powerhouse for alternative meat and alternative protein.”
