Luyef Biotechnologies has been awarded two significant grants totaling $1.25 million to enhance the scalability and sustainability of cultivated meat production. These funds aim to address critical challenges in the industry by developing both thermostable growth factors and nutrient-rich media supplements by upcycling agro-industrial by-products.

The first grant, amounting to approximately $1 million, was provided by the Chilean Economic Development Agency (CORFO), which works to improve the country’s competitiveness and productive diversification. This project focuses on creating a cost-efficient and sustainable platform for producing more stable and effective growth factors through protein engineering and precision fermentation, aiming to significantly reduce production costs and overcome major technological barriers in scaling cultivated meat.

The second grant, totaling $250,000, was awarded by the Good Food Institute (GFI). This initiative seeks to develop a sustainable and nutrient-rich media supplement for cultivated meat cell lines. The project plans to use novel hydrolysates and lupin by-products to formulate a cost-effective supplement, enhancing the scalability of cultivated meat production.

Both projects leverage biotechnological innovations, such as precision fermentation and the valorization of agro-industrial by-products, to replace expensive additives and animal-derived components. These advancements have the potential to accelerate the market readiness of cultivated meat, making it a more viable and sustainable alternative to conventional meat.

In addition to these achievements, Luyef Biotechnologies is advancing its mission to commercialize its flagship ingredient, TAMEE (The Authentic Meat-Eating Experience). Developed through precision fermentation, TAMEE is a bovine myoglobin-based solution that enhances the flavor, color, and aroma of plant-based and cultivated meat products. With a focus on scaling production and expanding market presence in Chile, Luyef continues to solidify its position as a leader in the cellular agriculture sector.

Luyef Biotechnologies’ CEO, Dr. Kris Blanchard, expressed enthusiasm about the grants, stating, “These projects represent a significant step forward in our mission of accelerating the transition towards a more sustainable and animal-free production system. I also think that the support from CORFO underscores the Chilean government’s commitment to fostering emerging industries and high-risk technologies, which is always a good sign to the deep biotech community in the region”.

If you are interested to learn more about the opportunities on how to engage with Luyef and support them reaching their ambitious goals, please reach out to us.