Academics

Solutions Database

Species-specific genomic studies enabling assay development for regulatory standards and cell line optimization

A suite of assays and genomic knowledge exists for humans and commonly used laboratory species such as mice or fruit flies. However, the same species-specific infrastructure does not exist equally across the species used in cultivated meat, with an especially large gap in seafood species. Commercialized, standardized assays for species identification such as Short Tandem Repeat (STR) or Cytochrome C Oxidase I (COI) assays are needed. Additionally, richer genetic datasets, including thorough genome annotations that facilitate identification of safe harbor loci, can broadly accelerate cell line optimization studies.

1. Academics
2. Cell line development
3. Cultivated
4. Industry
5. R&D
6. Research
7. Science
8. Seafood-relevant

Solutions Database

Guidelines for cultivated meat starter cell selection

Improving our understanding of the relative advantages and disadvantages of different cell types for cultivated meat would enable companies to make these decisions more effectively with less duplicative effort.

1. 1 - Inception
2. Academics
3. Cell line development
4. Cultivated
5. R&D
6. Raw Materials, Ingredients, & Inputs
7. Research
8. Science
9. Seafood-relevant

Solutions Database

Mapping the secretome of animal myoblasts, adipocytes, and other cells used in cultivated meat

Stem cells secrete a variety of signaling factors that can influence the behavior of surrounding cells, known as paracrine signals. In high-density bioprocesses, these secreted factors can accumulate to concentrations that can dramatically influence productivity and behavior of neighboring cells. By mapping the secretome of animal myoblasts, adipocytes, and other stem cells used for cultivated meat, a better understanding of which factors influence proliferation, differentiation, and other cellular traits can be obtained. Mapping efforts will inform how to best leverage this knowledge to improve cultivated meat production.

1. Academics
2. Cell line development
3. Cultivated
4. Production
5. R&D
6. Research
7. Science
8. Seafood-relevant

Solutions Database

Plants as a recombinant protein expression platform

Plants can serve as expression platforms similar to microorganisms used as recombinant protein hosts. This may require minimal processing into value-added ingredients, such as egg and dairy functional proteins. Plants offer scalability with less need for expensive downstream purification to isolate proteins of interest from inedible or undesirable hosts.

1. 2 - Early adoption
2. Academics
3. Commercial
4. Crop development
5. Industry
6. Industry
7. Ingredient optimization
8. Plant-Based
9. Production
10. R&D
11. Raw Materials, Ingredients, & Inputs
12. Research
13. Science
14. Species-agnostic
15. Startups

Solutions Database

Species-specific research toolkits for cultivated meat-relevant species

Coordinated efforts to develop standardized, comprehensive research toolkits of meat-relevant species would exponentially accelerate cultivated meat research.

1. Academics
2. Cell culture media
3. Cell line development
4. Commercial
5. Compliance
6. Cultivated
7. Ecosystem
8. End product formulation & manufacturing
9. GFI
10. Industry
11. NGO's
12. R&D
13. Research
14. Science
15. Seafood-relevant
16. Startups

Solutions Database

Systematic investigation of growth factor needs and effects

Open-access research into growth factors required for proliferation, maintenance, and differentiation of cell types relevant to cultivated meat will support both academic and industry research efforts. This research could include screening of species-specific growth factors under a variety of conditions and in a variety of cell types to characterize cross-species compatibility, which informs commercial efforts to scale production of the most widely used growth factors. Research should also seek to define optimal concentrations of individual growth factors and cocktails for achieving various cell states or behaviors, as well as understanding interactions between growth factors.

1. Academics
2. Cell culture media
3. Cultivated
4. Fermentation
5. R&D
6. Raw Materials, Ingredients, & Inputs
7. Research
8. Science
9. Seafood-relevant
10. Target molecule selection

Solutions Database

Comprehensive microbial screening to identify new protein production candidate strains

Metabolic and physiological characteristics of microbial strains define the commercial potential of any fermentative process, but only a minimal number of strains have been scaled up for commercial production of alternative protein. To broaden the spectrum of available microorganisms, systematic investigation into the physiology of novel microbial strains is needed to identify strains suitable for fermentation.

1. 1 - Inception
2. Academics
3. Commercial
4. Fermentation
5. Host strain development
6. Industry
7. Industry
8. Production
9. R&D
10. Research
11. Science
12. Species-agnostic
13. Startups

Solutions Database

Development and industry-wide adoption of standards for meat characterization

A more comprehensive understanding of the processes, structures, and molecular constituents governing meat's organoleptic properties will inform the production of alternative proteins.

1. 1 - Inception
2. Academics
3. Cultivated
4. End product formulation & manufacturing
5. End Products
6. GFI
7. Industry
8. NGO's
9. R&D
10. Research
11. Science
12. Seafood-relevant
13. Startups

Solutions Database

Computational models of perfusion flow through scaffolds

For tissue-structured cultivated meat production, the transition from the proliferation phase to differentiation phase may involve seeding cells onto a prefabricated scaffold within a perfusion bioreactor. Medium is then perfused through the cell-laden scaffold, providing nutrients and oxygen as cells differentiate and mature. Computational models are needed to describe fluid flow through scaffolds to better understand mass transfer and shear forces. These models will inform considerations for scaffold materials, geometries, dimensions, fabrication methods, and bioprocess design as well as considerations for the composition and viscosity of the medium.

1. Academics
2. Bioprocess design
3. Cultivated
4. R&D
5. Research
6. Scaffolding
7. Science
8. Seafood-relevant
9. Startups

Solutions Database

Expand capacity for demonstration-scale and mid-scale co-manufacturing

Companies entering the alt protein space often struggle to secure line time at demonstration-scale and mid-scale commercial production facilities. Greater availability of mid-scale contract capacity would reduce capital outlays and facilitate scaling, allowing alt protein companies to maintain greater control over their equity and exercise more influence within the supply chain. Contracting production allows for a more modular supply chain, with participants achieving gains from specialization, allowing for better financial and organizational structuring around core competencies.

1. Academics
2. Bioprocess design
3. Commercial
4. Cultivated
5. Ecosystem
6. End product formulation & manufacturing
7. Fermentation
8. Industry
9. Industry
10. Plant-Based
11. Production
12. R&D
13. Raw Materials, Ingredients, & Inputs
14. Species-agnostic