Lab-grown meat, once promised as a moral alternative to traditional livestock, is now entering the market in niche products like dog food and sausages. Hoxton Farms, a London-based start-up, focuses on cultivated pork fat for processed meats, acknowledging that the technology is better suited for enhancing existing products than creating premium steaks. The sector faces challenges including high costs, regulatory hurdles, consumer skepticism, and scaling difficulties.
Funding has declined significantly, with cultivated meat and seafood companies raising just $74 million last year compared to over $5 billion in 2021. Companies like Meatly are testing the waters with pet food, partnering with The Pack and Pets at Home. Investor Jim Mellon, through Agronomics, emphasizes that cultivated food is an industrial process with slim margins, not a Silicon Valley-style venture.
The industry is shifting from transformative visions to finding viable niches where lab-grown ingredients can address specific needs at competitive costs.
来源: Financial Times Companies · 由HeadlinesBriefing整理摘要