The goal of cellular agriculture is to serve the growing market for animal products. However, since current production technology delivers low yields, economic projections prevent the scalability of cultured meat.

A new study by a multidisciplinary team from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the cultured meat industry reports a groundbreaking new method for producing cultured meat. This new continuous manufacturing process addresses key challenges of scalability and cost, potentially making cultured meat accessible to the everyday consumer and contributing to a more sustainable and ethical food system.

Scientists used tangential flow filtration (TFF) to produce continuously cultured meat, achieving a biomass of up to 130 billion cells per liter and a weight-to-volume ratio of 43%.

The process was carried out continuously for 20 days, allowing biomass to be harvested daily. The study also presents a growth medium without animal ingredients that costs only $0.63 per liter. This medium is designed to support the high-density, long-term culture of chicken cells. In other words, this continuous manufacturing approach could make the production of commercial meat more affordable and easier, making it more accessible to the general consumer.

The study shows that continuous production enables the production of cultured meat at a fraction of current costs, without resorting to genetic modifications or mega-factories. This technology brings us closer to making cultured meat a viable and sustainable alternative to traditional animal agriculture.

This study represents a significant advance in the economic feasibility of cultured meat. Using empirical data, scientists conducted a techno-economic analysis of a hypothetical 50,000-liter production facility. Based on the analysis, the production cost of cultured chicken meat could be reduced to $6.20 per pound.

Dr. Elliot Swartz, Chief Scientist at Cultivated Meat, The Good Food Institute, highlighted the importance of the study’s findings, stating: “This important study provides numerous data points demonstrating the economic viability of cultured meat. The study confirms early theoretical calculations that serum-free media can be produced at a cost well below $1/L without sacrificing productivity, a key factor in the cost competitiveness of cultured meat.”

“Empirical data form the basis of any cost model for scaled cultured meat production, and this study is the first to provide real-world empirical evidence of key factors influencing production costs, such as media costs, metabolic efficiency and achievable yields in a scalable bioprocess design.”

Other authors noted, “The final market price of cultured meat is influenced by several other factors. This research highlights the potential of continuous manufacturing to significantly reduce production costs, make cultured meat more accessible to consumers and more competitive with conventional meat products.”

Not only does this study hold promise that cellular agriculture can meet global demand for animal products, it also pursues broader environmental and ethical goals by reducing dependence on traditional livestock farming.

This technological innovation could significantly improve food safety and animal welfare, meeting the needs of a global population increasingly affected by climate change. The study’s implications for the future of humanity are likely to generate significant interest across many academic fields and in the media.

Journal reference:

1. Pasitka, L., Wissotsky, G., Ayyash, M. et al. Empirical economic analysis shows cost-effective continuous production of breeding chickens using animal-free medium. Nat Food (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s43016-024-01022-w