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Founded in 2017 by Didier Toubia in collaboration with The Kitchen Hub—Tritiative foodtech of the agrifood group Strauss—And the professor Shulamit Levenberg of Technical,, Aleph Farms has imposed itself as one of the most promising actors in cultivated meat. The convergence of biotechnological innovation and global food issues, the Israeli startup pursues an ambitious objective: redefine animal protein production systems through a sustainable and economically viable approach.
Constantly evolving technology
The innovation developed by Aleph Farms is based on thetissue engineeringtechnology inspired by cell regeneration processes. Under the leadership of Professor Levenberg, the startup has developed a method to cultivate complete cattle tissues in the laboratory, incorporating muscle fibers, blood vessels, adipose and connective tissues. This technical advance offers a texture and a structure comparable to those of traditional meat, with a considerably reduced production cycle.
However, Aleph Farms has changed his strategy. Unlike its initial ambitions to market a completely cultivated steak in vitro, the company opted for a hybrid productcombining Animal cells and plant matrix. This adaptation meets two imperatives: accelerate adoption by the market And Reduce production costswhile guaranteeing optimal nutritional and taste quality.
From this perspective, the startup has achieved a significant advance by removing any use of fetal veal serumrelying on a culture medium free from any animal component. This change allows it to free itself from a major cost and dependence factor while strengthening its ethical and environmental positioning.
An industrial model redesigned to guarantee profitability
Aleph Farms has taken a decisive step by reaching reduce its production costs by 97 % In the space of two years. This advance is based on the optimization of the culture medium, the increase in cell yield and the rationalization of production equipment. This cost mastery led the company to review its industrial model.
Initially turned towards an internalized production with clean infrastructure, Aleph Farms now favors a asset-light modelbetting on Industrial partnerships in Asia and Europe. Rather than investing massively in the construction of factories, it is based on existing infrastructure to ensure the scale of its production, an approach which allows it to limit investments in CAPEX and to accelerate its commercial deployment.
An expansion strategy that favors Asia and the Middle East
After obtaining a regulatory approval in Israel in 2023Aleph Farms continues its expansion on several strategic markets. The company awaits validations by 2025 United Kingdom, Switzerland, the United States, Singapore and Thailand.
Asia is a priority, carried by a particularly high acceptance of alternative proteins. In Thailand, near 97 % of consumers declare themselves favorable to cultivated meat, a rate much higher than that observed in Europe or North America. With this in mind, Aleph Farms has signed an agreement to implement a production unit in Southeast Asiathus reinforcing its ability to meet local demand.
In parallel, the startup develops a reinforced presence in Middle Eastsupported by investments emanating from United Arab Emirates through the sovereign fund ADQ. This positioning is part of a broader vision of food sovereigntyaimed at providing an alternative to regions where climatic constraints limit traditional farming.
Europe, on the other hand, represents a complex market due to strict regulations and political resistance. To get around these obstacles, Aleph Farms has chosen to set up in Swisswhere regulatory procedures are more flexible. This strategic choice could serve as a gateway for future expansion on the European market, although it remains subject to strong pressures exerted by agricultural lobbies and livestock subsidies.
A demanding market context, but carrying opportunities
To ensure its development Aleph Farms has $ 119.4 million lifted from 21 investors including Leonardo DiCaprio, alongside AD disruptors, Preregrine Ventures or Strauss Group, during different rounds (2.4 million dollars in 2017, 14.4 million dollars in 2019 in its series A, and another B fin financing 119.4 million Dollars in 2021.
| Financing stadium | Investors |
|---|---|
| Funding Round | Markus Samuelsson |
| Venture Round | Leonardo DiCAPRI |
| Series B | Alumni Ventures, L Catreton (Michael J. Farello), Visvires New Protein (Kenneth Lee), BRF, Thai Union Group, Strauss Group, Disruptad (Mansour Almulla), Cargill, Peregrine Ventures, CJ Cheiljedang Corp., Skyviews Life Science, Millenium Food-tech, CPT Capital, Champel Capital |
| Series a | CPT Capital, Technion Seed, Cargill, M-Industry, New Crop Capital, Strauss Group, Jesselson Capital, Visvires New Protein (Kenneth Lee), Peregrine Ventures |
| Seed Round | New Crop Capital, The Kitchen – Foodtech Hub |
However, investors no longer bet on abstract food transformation promises, but on Viable and profitable short -term economic models. Aware of these new requirements, the company has refocused its strategy on a profitability objective from the launchan approach breaking with the previous logics of the sector, where the race for marketing often prevails over financial solidity.
Acceptability by the consumer, a major issue
A major challenge for Aleph Farms and the entire meat sector cultivated in the laboratory is the acceptability by the consumer. The change in perception can take time, and it is essential for Aleph Farms to guarantee the quality and taste of its steaks. The startup has also banned the word meat from its lexical field to bring more clarity and reduce friction with defenders of the bovine production ride. This requires open and transparent communication, educational campaigns to educate consumers about the advantages of cultivated meat in the laboratory, and efforts to make products as accessible as possible in terms of cost.
To evangelize with the general public, Aleph Farms combined with chef Marcus Samuelsson who joined the startup as a investor, culinary advisor and accompanying speech in order to highlight the products marketed under the Aleph Cuts brand. Throughout his ascent towards renown as a famous chef of 13 restaurants around the world, a successful author of the New York Times And television personality, Marcus Samuelsson has taken advantage of his unique experience to promote diversity in the culinary world.
Little known in France, Marcus Samuelsson won eight prizes from the James Beard Foundation as a chief, author and television personality, in particular to have presented No Passport Required On PBS. He appeared as an arrival chef on Netflix in the successful series Iron Chef: Quest for an Iron Legend. Its restaurants around the world include Red Red Rooster Harlem (New York) and Red Rooster Overtown (Miami), Marcus Montreal, Marcus B & P in Newark, Streetbird at the Yankee Stadium, Marcus at Baha Mar Fish + Chop House in Bahamas, the recent Hav & Mar in Chelsea (New York City) and Marcus Bar and Grille in Atlanta
In summary: the assets and challenges of Aleph Farms
Advantages of cultivated meat
- Sustainability : a requiring production less soil, water and energy that traditional breeding, thus reducing the carbon footprint.
- Animal welfare : a production method eliminating slaughter, considerably reducing animal suffering.
- Food security : a controlled environment for Limit the risk of bacterial contamination And to guarantee total traceability.
Obstacles and challenges
- Acceptability by the consumer : an innovation still perceived with skepticism, requiring Increased pedagogy.
- Production cost : despite a drop in 97 %cultivated meat remains more expensive than conventional meat.
- Regulatory issues : significant disparities between countries and brakes linked to agrifood lobbies.
Aleph Farms in 6 key dates
- 2017 : Foundation with The Kitchen Hub.
- December 2018 : First prototype of cultivated steak.
- September 2019 : Large meat culture experience on the international space station.
- April 2020 : Commitment to a zero net carbon assessment by 2025.
- February 2021 : Presentation of the first chop steak cultivated by 3D bio-impression.
- 2025 : Commercial launch with a optimized strategy and reduced costs of 97 %.
