Singapore doubles down on lab-grown meat as Silicon Valley backs off

🌈 Abstract

The article discusses the launch of cultivated meat, grown from cells in a lab, at Huber's Butchery in Singapore's Dempsey Hill neighborhood. It provides an overview of the cultivated meat industry, the challenges it faces, and Singapore's role as a hub for alternative protein development.

🙋 Q&A

[01] Cultivated Meat Launch at Huber's Butchery

1. What is significant about the launch of cultivated meat at Huber's Butchery?

• This is the first time cultivated meat can be bought in a store anywhere in the world, according to the manufacturer Eat Just.
• The launch is a milestone for Eat Just and the cultivated meat industry, as it represents a step towards making cultivated meat more accessible to consumers.

2. What are the key details about Eat Just's new cultivated meat product?

• The formulation uses only 3% cultivated chicken to keep the price lower and make it more affordable for consumers to try.
• Singapore was chosen as the launch market due to the country's openness to new food technologies.

[02] Challenges Facing the Cultivated Meat Industry

1. What are some of the key challenges the cultivated meat industry is facing?

• Cultivated meat is expensive to produce and hard to scale, leading to a decline in investor interest.
• The industry has received a fraction of the investment compared to other technologies aimed at reducing emissions, such as renewable energy.
• Regulatory approval processes can be slow in some countries, hampering the industry's growth.

2. How is Singapore addressing these challenges?

• Singapore has committed $230 million towards alternative protein development, including grants, training, and building capabilities in bioprocessing.
• The government has invested heavily in getting technological expertise into its regulatory departments, allowing for faster approval processes compared to other countries.
• Singapore provides shared developmental resources, such as bioreactors, to help startups scale their production.

[03] Singapore's Role as a Hub for Cultivated Meat

1. What factors make Singapore an attractive location for cultivated meat development?

• As a small country with limited natural resources, Singapore is focused on sustainable food production and sees alternative proteins as a key part of its "30 by 30" vision.
• Singapore's regulatory environment is conducive, with the government fast-tracking approval processes and declaring cultivated meat as halal.
• The country has a tight-knit innovation community that facilitates collaboration between startups, researchers, and government agencies.

2. How is Singapore positioning itself as a global hub for cultivated meat?

• Singapore is serving as a testing ground for cultivated meat companies, with several international startups launching their products in the country.
• The government is investing in building capabilities and infrastructure, such as the food innovation center that helped produce Eat Just's cultivated meat.
• Singapore aims to be a place where companies can refine their formulations, improve manufacturing processes, and explore new techniques to drive down costs.