European Cultivated Meat Ventures Struggle with Funding Issues in the ‘Valley of Death

European foodtech startups working on lab-grown meat are facing significant challenges, often described as a “valley of death,” according to the Good Food Institute Europe. This term refers to the difficult period where companies struggle to transition from initial development to large-scale production due to high costs and a lack of infrastructure. The lab-grown meat sector, also known as cultivated or cultured meat, has garnered substantial attention and investment for its potential environmental and economic benefits. However, the industry is currently hindered by astronomical manufacturing costs and production complexities, which raise concerns about its scalability and the return on investment.

In 2023, investments in cultivated meat and seafood startups significantly dropped to $225.9 million, a stark decline from the $922.2 million raised in 2022. This reduction in funding is accompanied by closures of startups and job cuts, highlighting the sector's struggles. Despite this downturn, the first half of 2024 has shown some stabilization, with European cultivated meat firms raising €45 million. This figure is nearly half of the €116 million raised throughout 2023, suggesting a partial recovery.

Seth Roberts, senior policy manager at the Good Food Institute Europe, points out that European cultivated meat startups are encountering a major obstacle due to the absence of large-scale production facilities. These facilities are essential for scaling up production to meet commercial demands. The lack of infrastructure creates a bottleneck where new products remain in the development phase or are relocated abroad for better support. This “valley of death” scenario is exacerbated by difficulties in securing funding for the construction of such facilities.

Jim Mellon, a prominent businessman and founder of Agronomics, a venture capital fund focused on cultivated meat, expresses concern that the European Union’s slow regulatory processes and cultural resistance to novel proteins could lead Europe to miss out on significant opportunities. Mellon argues that the EU’s approach to novel proteins under the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is less favorable compared to the US and Asia-Pacific regions. Additionally, Europe’s higher energy costs compared to other regions make it challenging to produce cultivated meat at competitive prices.

The process of creating cultivated meat involves removing muscle cells from a living animal, typically using local anesthesia. These cells are then grown in a nutrient-rich broth within bioreactors, a process akin to brewing yeast. The cells develop into muscle tissue that can be used to produce various meat products, such as steaks, chicken nuggets, or even salmon sashimi.

Back in 2020, the approval of Eat Just’s cultivated chicken in Singapore was seen as a groundbreaking achievement. Since then, there have been other notable developments, including regulatory approvals in the US for cultivated chicken and beef, and the first European tasting of cultivated meat. Major food companies and investors, including Tyson, JBS, Cargill, Ashton Kutcher, and Leonardo DiCaprio, have also supported the industry. However, there have been setbacks, such as bans on cultivated meat in Italy, Hungary, Florida, and Alabama, and challenges faced by companies like Upside Foods and SciFi Foods.

Looking forward, Mellon identifies several promising signs within the sector. For instance, companies like Mosa Meat in the Netherlands have recently secured significant funding. Mellon believes that the downturn has filtered out less capable startups, leaving a smaller group of well-funded companies that are likely to emerge stronger and more competitive. He also notes that several companies are anticipating regulatory approvals in multiple markets within the next year.

Roberts calls for greater support from both the food industry and public sector to help European startups overcome these challenges. He believes that while the European sector possesses the necessary skills to thrive, its future success will depend on whether national governments and the EU develop comprehensive strategies to support the growth and commercialization of cultivated meat. Such strategies are essential to making cultivated meat affordable and accessible, maximizing its potential to enhance food security and contribute to sustainable food systems.