By: Research Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN)
Amid growing environmental concerns, ethical considerations, and evolving dietary preferences, the conventional livestock-based meat production model faces mounting scrutiny. To address this multifaceted challenge, startups, investors, and major food producers globally are turning to “in vitro meat,” cultivated directly from animal cells. However, several significant scientific inquiries must be addressed before cell-based meat products can be introduced in Germany and the EU as a sustainable, ethical, and climate-friendly alternative to traditional meat.
Dr. Monika Röntgen, a scientist at the Research Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), and her team are resolute in bridging these knowledge gaps and developing sustainable process solutions through the interdisciplinary research consortium “CELLZERO Meat,” established in collaboration with partners.
The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) has allocated 1.19 million euros in funding to support the “CELLZERO Meat” project, led by FBN. The project aligns with the objectives and guidelines outlined in the “National Research Strategy Bioeconomy 2030” and the “National Policy Strategy Bioeconomy” established by the Federal Government.
Dr. Röntgen, the project leader, emphasized, “We have formidable partners alongside us and entirely novel research approaches.”
The research network comprises the Leibniz Institute for Plasma Research and Technology in Greifswald, the Anhalt University of Applied Sciences in Bernburg, and PAN-Biotech GmbH in Aidenbach.
Addressing the Three Key Challenges
Dr. Röntgen explained, “Several scientific challenges have hindered the development of cell-based meat alternatives and the emergence of a market. We aim to surmount these hurdles by devising a process based on our own foundational research findings.”
The primary focus of the project is to discover and implement solutions for three central issues in cell-based animal protein production. These include the use of foetal calf serum and antibiotics in cell culture growth media, as well as genetic engineering methods.
FBN has been researching cell-based meat since 2018 under Dr. Röntgen’s leadership. Their extensive research into muscle development in pigs and the functionality of muscular stem cells laid the groundwork for CELLZERO Meat. This project was successfully tested and further developed during an exploratory phase funded by BMBF.
The FBN team, under Dr. Röntgen’s guidance, oversees the cell biology aspect of the process, encompassing all stages from obtaining the initial material to the final cell-based product, such as sausages or structured meat. Concurrently, researchers at Anhalt University of Applied Sciences are investigating the meat technological, functional, and sensory properties necessary for producing delectable and nutritious food from animal cells.
Ethical Considerations and Innovations
The ethical acquisition of the required stem cells, ensuring no harm or distress to animals, is of paramount importance. Partnerships with PAN-Biotech GmbH from Bavaria are spearheading the development of substitutes for foetal calf serum and new nutrient solutions for cell cultures. To eliminate the need for antibiotics throughout the process, a novel, residue-free, plasma-based decontamination process is being developed at INP in Greifswald.
Commercial Launch on the Horizon
Cell-based meat production is a complex and currently cost-intensive process. It demands scalable production processes and standalone technologies that address biological processes, technical implementation, sustainability, and ethical considerations. Therefore, it may take some time before cell-cultured meat becomes a common food source. Nonetheless, researchers are confident that they can develop scientifically sound and ethically sound processes. Considering global food demands, cell-based meat is seen as the way of the future.
The research consortium plans to present its results within two years, at which point considerations such as usability and market launch will become increasingly pivotal.