Following approval from the Singapore Food Agency (SFA), Eat Just is preparing to market cultivated chicken meat in Singapore. This cell-based chicken will be manufactured under Eat Just’s GOOD Meat brand, utilizing collaborations with regional producers, and will initially be offered to restaurants before becoming available to individual consumers.

Eat Just characterizes the Singaporean government’s evaluation and subsequent approval as a groundbreaking achievement, despite the efforts of numerous other companies developing lab-grown meats through diverse methods.

According to global head of communications Andrew Noyes, the cell line used for Eat Just’s cultivated meat production was obtained without the slaughter of any chickens. The process begins with cell isolation, which can involve obtaining cells via a biopsy from a living animal. These cells are then grown in a bioreactor, nourished with a unique blend of proteins, amino acids, minerals, sugars, salts, and other essential nutrients, and ultimately harvested when they reach sufficient density.

The company demonstrated the reliability of its production process through 20 separate production cycles of cell-cultured chicken, each conducted in 1,200-liter bioreactors. Eat Just also confirmed that no antibiotics were utilized in the process, and that its cultivated chicken exhibits “extremely low and significantly cleaner microbiological content” compared to traditionally produced chicken.

Noyes indicated that the company is currently collaborating with a restaurant to integrate GOOD Meat chicken into their offerings, with a launch date announcement anticipated shortly.

In a statement released today, Eat Just’s chief executive officer, Josh Tetrick, remarked, “Singapore has consistently been a pioneer in innovation across various fields, including information technology, biologics, and now, in establishing a more healthful and secure food system.”

The nation’s government is presently undertaking the “30 by 30” initiative, aiming to domestically produce 30% of its food supply by the year 2030. This initiative, led by the Singapore Food Agency (SFA), was prompted by Singapore’s current reliance on imports for over 90% of its food, which creates susceptibility to export restrictions and logistical challenges, as underscored by the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The SFA, alongside the Agency for Science, Technology and Research, has allocated $144 million SGD for research funding as part of “30 by 30.”

Eat Just, also known for its plant-based egg alternative, recently announced a partnership with Proterra Investment Partners Asia to establish a new Asian subsidiary. This collaboration includes a Singapore-based factory that benefited from support from the government’s Economic Development board.

Several factors are contributing to the growing demand for cultivated meat and plant-based proteins in Asian markets. A primary driver is increased concern regarding the safety of conventionally sourced meat, which gained prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic also brought to light vulnerabilities within existing production and supply chains, issues that could potentially be mitigated through the use of lab-grown meat and alternative protein sources.