Building Your Alt Protein Career

Minami Ogawa

PHD CANDIDATE, UC DAVIS
CO-FOUNDER OF OPTIMIZED FOODS
IIFH SUPPLY CHAIN CAPITAL FELLOW

Minami is an enthusiastic food scientist dedicated to fostering innovation and shaping sustainable, healthy, and environmentally beneficial future food systems. With a foundation in wine microbiology, her earlier focus on studying immobilization supports paved the way to transition into the realm of cellular agriculture. This unique journey propelled her towards pioneering and filing intellectual property for the development of edible mycelium microcarriers, aimed at facilitating the proliferation of animal cells crucial in cultivated meat production. She now researches the edible microcarriers for her Ph.D. thesis, guided by Dr. David Block, and as part of the Cultivated Meat Consortium to revolutionize food technology for a more sustainable and healthier future.

Additionally, Minami plays a pivotal role as the Co-founder and Director of Cultivated Foods at a university spinoff company called Optimized Foods, which harnesses the power of mycelium to create high margin, delicious food alternatives. Her journey, representing women in STEM and entrepreneurship, perfectly aligns with being a fellow at Supply Change Capital, and resonates deeply in her quest to revolutionize food systems through innovative solutions that prioritize both human health and the environment.