Event description


A significant hurdle to the cost-parity of cultivated meat is the cost of growth factors, which are essential components of serum-free media for sustaining cell growth. Join Dr. Peter Stogios, Senior Research Associate at BioZone at the University of Toronto, who will discuss how his team lowered the cost of growth factors in serum-free media by more than 20-fold. His team engineered the recombinant production of multiple growth factor families, including TGF-beta1 and FGF-2, for inexpensive production in bacteria, and discovered new growth factors from exotic species that outperform typically used growth factors in sustaining growth of multiple cell types. The protocols and reagents from this work are freely available to the cellular agriculture community.

An illustration of the globe with two hands reaching towards one another.  third party event featured image.

Register for the post-seminar networking session

After the seminar, we encourage you to join our optional networking event for alternative protein enthusiasts! You can talk about your research, your company, any challenges you’re facing in your work, or your reflections on the webinar. The networking session starts at 2:15pm EDT and requires a separate registration. We hope to see you there!

Meet the speaker

Dr. Peter stogios

Peter Stogios, Ph.D.

SENIOR RESEARCH ASSOCIATE, BIOZONE AT UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO

Dr. Peter Stogios is a Senior Research Associate at BioZone, at the University of Toronto. A structural biologist and protein biochemist by training, Dr. Stogios’ research interests include molecular mechanisms of infectious disease, antimicrobial drug discovery, and protein engineering. He has published in academic journals including Science, Nature Chemical Biology, and Nature Biotechnology. Dr. Stogios received a grant from The Good Food Institute for the discovery and engineering of growth factors for cellular agriculture. Follow Dr. Stogios @torontopeter.

Upcoming events

View all events
An illustration of the globe with two hands reaching towards one another.  third party event featured image.
Virtual Event

African Food Research Conference 2026

GFI is proud to support the African Food Research Conference 2026, a two-day virtual event organized by the Centre for African Food Research and Innovation.

An illustrative graphic of a cultivator and plant-based salmon and sushi with a blue background

Earth Precision Agriculture Conference 2026

GFI’s Elliot Swartz is helping shape the future of food biomanufacturing at EPA 2026—where precision agriculture, biotechnology, and cellular agriculture come together.

Https://gfi. Org/wp content/uploads/2026/07/sci26027 webinar graphics soap aug header featured
Virtual Event

The Science of Alt Protein: Growth factors—Driving cultivated meat cost and scalability

Learn how researchers are developing innovative approaches to reduce growth factor costs and make cultivated meat production more affordable.

An illustration of the world with trees and windmills in the background

The Future of Meat: Technology, Sustainability, and the Meats of Tomorrow

Bruce Friedrich heads to The Commonwealth Club for a conversation about Meat—and why rethinking how we produce meat could shape the future of food.

An illustration of cultivatd fish fry with french fries for the fish and chips collaborative huddle
Virtual Event

Fish & CHIPS: Collaborative Huddle for Ideation & Problem Solving

Calling all cultivated seafood researchers and innovators! Join us for our next collaborative huddle on September 29th at 11:30 am ET.

An illustration of cultivatd fish fry with french fries for the fish and chips collaborative huddle
Virtual Event

Fish & CHIPS: Collaborative Huddle for Ideation & Problem Solving

Calling all cultivated seafood researchers and innovators! Join us for our next collaborative huddle on September 29th at 10:30 pm ET.