SeedBlink Blog

$25 billion! That's how big the global cultivated meat market is projected to grow by 2030, according to McKinsey report. Having the ability to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 96%, and land use by 99%, compared to conventional farming, cultivated meat is a sustainable solution to some of the biggest challenges we face right now: feeding a growing population, and the increasing need for efficiency and food security, all without draining the planet's resources.

Cultivated meat: what is it and how is it produced?

Cultivated meat is produced by growing animal cells in controlled environments, without any animal being slaughtered. The process begins with harvesting cells from the animal and then placing them in bioreactors – these are highly controlled environments that mimic the conditions inside a living organism. To get the final product, the cells are nourished with essential nutrients, to multiply and differentiate into muscle, fat and connective tissue.

The process of obtaining cultivated meat is efficient and eliminates a lot of the risks associated with traditional meat production, like contamination with E-coli or salmonella. Furthermore, the use of antibiotics, a frequent practice in livestock farming, is eliminated, making it safer and healthier for consumers.

But how natural is cultivated meat? According to The Good Food Institute, cultivated meat has the exact same cells as traditional meat, the only difference being the way it is produced.

Technological innovation: co-cultivating animal cells and microalgae

While cultivated meat is an innovation, Mewery, a Czech-based food tech startup, is taking a step forward and comes with an industry first: co-cultivating pork cells with microalgae, and bringing unique advantages to the cultivated meat market:

• Increased nutritional profile: microalgae, also known as a “superfood,” enriches the meat with 80% more protein, reduces the saturated fat by 80%, and adds a mix of vitamins and minerals, that is not present in conventional nor other cultivated meats.
• Cost efficiency: Mewery’s production process lowers the costs by 70%, compared to other cultivated meat methods, thanks to their own low-cost cultivation media and 3D structures based on microalgae.
• Universal cultivation platform, which provides optimal conditions for entering new meat segments such as chicken, beef or fish.
• Sustainability: by integrating microalgae, the environmental footprint is reduced, offering an eco-friendlier production method.

With a patent-pending process under the US Provisional, Mewery method to produce meat is an industry first and positions the company to become a leader in the cultivated meat segment, which is estimated to be worth €25 billion by 2030.

Challenges of the cultivated meat industry

The cultivated meat industry is gaining momentum: Singapore became the first country to approve it for sale in 2020, and the U.S. followed just 2 years later. Consumer awareness is growing too, and with the global population set to reach 10 billion by 2050, sustainable food solutions are more than essential. But, despite its promise, this industry also faces some challenges:

• Consumer acceptance: according to one of the largest surveys on cultivated meat conducted by YouGov, over 55% of respondents in Europe are willing to try it. However, some people still perceive cultivated meat as unnatural. Companies like Mewery are facing this challenge through transparent communication about the production process and the benefits of their products.
• Regulatory frameworks: cultivated meat must navigate complex regulatory landscapes to gain approval for commercial sale and each market has its own processes. However, the progress made in markets like the ones from Singapore and the U.S. sets a blueprint for global adoption in the near future. Furthermore, China is also on their way to approve cultivated meat before 2027, as the country's five-year agriculture plan explicitly mentions the adoption of cultured meat.
• Cultural resistance: food traditions can be deeply ingrained, and some cultures are still tied to their traditions and food choices. But sustainability becomes a global priority, and cultivated meat offers a viable alternative that aligns with evolving consumer values.
• Cost of production: the cost of production is another barrier for cultured meat's global commercialization and more specifically, the cost of growth media. However, Mewery is already addressing this issue, by having a 70% lower production cost of the meat, thanks to their co-cultivation process and their own low-cost cultivation media.

Investment opportunity

Mewery – a startup currently raising via SeedBlink - is backed by Credo Ventures, Purple Ventures, and Big Idea Ventures, an achievement that only 1% of startups manage to secure at an early stage.

Credo Ventures is an early backer of UiPath and Manta, Big Idea Ventures is known for Gourmey and Orbillion Bio, and specializes in food-tech and sustainability investments, with a clear focus on cultivated meat, while Purple Ventures is a boutique VC supporting early-stage innovation in CEE.

The commitment from these VCs validates Mewery’s credibility and highlights the opportunity for investors to join a well-supported, high-potential startup that transforms the food market. With an active round on SeedBlink, investors can be part of an innovative movement in food technology today.

The funds raised will be used for scaling production, securing regulatory approvals in key markets, and accelerating commercialization of the first cultivated meat burger in an MVP version ready for commercial selling via the pilot sales in Switzerland. Mewery’s leadership includes CEO Roman Lauš, a serial entrepreneur, CSO Vladislav Strmiska, a Harvard fellow and co-author in Nature, and Dalibor Húska, a microalgae technology expert.

Explore Mewery’s funding round on SeedBlink and support their mission to revolutionize meat production.