Ajinomoto Co., Inc. Invests in SuperMeat, a Cultivated Meat Startup
With the Aim of Building a Sustainable Food System through Cellular Agriculture Technology
Ajinomoto Co., Inc. (“Ajinomoto Co.”) has decided to collaborate with SuperMeat
the Essence of Meat Ltd. (“SuperMeat”), a food tech company engaged in the development and production of
cultivated meat. As part of this collaboration, Ajinomoto also invests in SuperMeat, as one of its corporate
venture capital projects. Through this investment, Ajinomoto Co. will contribute to resolving food and health
issues by combining SuperMeat’s technologies and expertise in the development of cultivated meat, with
Ajinomoto Co.’s proprietary R&D technologies in biomedical field and fermentation, and Deliciousness
Technologies for such elements as flavor and texture.
Photo by Eiliv-Sonas Aceron on Unsplash
Against a backdrop of growing demand worldwide for animal protein and the consequent environmental burden
arising from increased production efforts, meat alternatives, such as plant-based meat and cultivated meat,
have been attracting further attention as viable solutions. Of these, cultivated meat market is estimated to grow
from approximately 2 billion U.S. dollars in 2025, up to 25 billion U.S. dollars in 2030 (Source: McKinsey Report,
June 2021). However, many cultivated meat startups are still at the stage of verifying their own technologies,
and a handful of them have recently moved on to the phase of testing consumer acceptance in limited areas,
and constructing or preparing to operate their commercial-scale production facilities.
SuperMeat is one of the leading companies in this space. It has the full-fledged functions related to the
development of cultivated meat—ranging from the verified technologies for the propagation and differentiation
of its proprietary cells, to food applications, with which consumer acceptance has been tested at a dining venue
adjoining to its pilot plant—and has the experience and track record towards the commercialization of cultivated
meat in the next 24 months. Going forward, Ajinomoto Co. will provide support in resolving issues arising from
their commercialization, and thus promote the development of new technologies and materials related to
cultivated meat.
Ajinomoto Co. has declared in the 2020–2025 Medium-Term Management Plan its aim to become a solution-
provider in food and health issues. It recognizes that cultivated meat can be a viable solution to protein supply
issue in securing food resources, reducing environmental burden, and maintaining a rich dietary life. By
supporting cultivated meat companies with its technologies and products (growth factors, amino acids, savory
seasonings, etc.) developed in the fields of regenerative medicine and food science, Ajinomoto Co. aims to
contribute to the establishment of a sustainable value chain that stretches from producers to consume
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