AINIA advances the industrial viability of cultivated meat with safe and scalable technological solutions

AINIA has achieved advances to bring cultivated meat closer to the industrial environment. Within the framework of the Meat4Future project, work has focused on improving the safety and consistency of cell cultures, optimising processes for industrial scale-up and validating prototypes that demonstrate the potential of this technology to achieve more sustainable and efficient food systems.

Safety and consistency in cell cultures

One of the major challenges of cultivated meat is ensuring that cells grow safely and consistently. To achieve this, potential risks have been analysed and controls have been defined to guarantee process quality. In addition, to bring this technology closer to formats that are attractive to consumers, trials have been carried out incorporating cultivated bovine cells into different food bases. These trials have shown improvements in texture and juiciness, while maintaining the integrity of the cooked product without it breaking apart.

Optimised processes for industrial scale-up

Another key focus has been improving the efficiency and scalability of the processes. Strategies have been developed to optimise cell expansion and CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) simulations have been carried out to refine the design and operation of bioreactors. This approach has made it possible to identify opportunities to improve process homogeneity and ensure adequate oxygenation, critical aspects for large-scale production. Finally, prototypes such as hybrid burgers and steak-like structures have been developed through 3D bioprinting.

The MEAT4FUTURE project is supported by the Conselleria d’Innovació, Indústria, Comerç i Turisme of the Generalitat Valenciana, through IVACE, and is funded by the European Union through the FEDER Comunitat Valenciana 2021-2027 Programme.