Cultivated meat offers numerous environmental and ethical benefits compared to traditional animal agriculture.
FREMONT, CA: Cultivated meat, also known as lab-grown or cell-based meat, holds promise as a sustainable alternative to traditional animal agriculture. Central to its production is cell culture manufacturing, which involves growing animal cells in controlled environments to produce meat products without raising and slaughtering animals. The process begins with sourcing animal cells from a small biopsy of the desired animal. The cells are then isolated and cultured in a suitable medium containing essential nutrients, growth factors, and hormones. Cell isolation techniques have advanced significantly, ensuring the selection of high-quality cells capable of robust proliferation and differentiation.
Once isolated, the cells are transferred to bioreactor systems where they undergo proliferation and differentiation into various cell types found in meat, like muscle, fat, and connective tissue. Bioreactors provide a controlled environment mimicking the conditions within the body, including temperature, pH, oxygen levels, and nutrient supply. Advanced bioreactor designs allow for scalability, enabling large-scale production to meet market demand. Media optimization is critical for supporting cell growth and differentiation. Researchers continuously refine and optimize growth media formulations to enhance cell proliferation, protein synthesis, and tissue development while minimizing costs and environmental impact.
Advanced sensors and analytics enable real-time monitoring of cell viability, metabolite concentrations, and tissue morphology within bioreactors. Automated control systems adjust environmental conditions accordingly, optimizing cell growth and maximizing product yield.
