CULT Food Science

The Better Butchers is a pioneering food technology company that produces cultivated, or lab-grown, meat. Their mission is to provide a sustainable and ethical alternative to traditional livestock farming. The company's meat is produced without animal slaughter, combining cultivated protein with plant-based fats to create a more efficient and moral way to consume meat, without compromising on taste and experience.

Novel Farms, Inc. is a Berkeley, California-based company founded in 2020 that specializes in the production of cell-based meat delicacies. It focuses on developing cruelty-free, low-cost, and tunable bioscaffolds through microbial fermentation and proprietary tissue engineering technology. The company's mission is to create gourmet meat alternatives that replicate the taste and texture of conventional meats, appealing to a new generation of conscious consumers. By producing whole-muscle cuts of cultivated meat, Novel Farms aims to make synthetic meat-based delicacies accessible and desirable, transforming the consumption of cell-based meat into a sought-after culinary experience.

Minus is a beanless coffee company which produces coffee.

Unicorn Biotechnologies develops a next-generation biomanufacturing platform for cell-based manufacturing, initially focusing on cultivated meat. Its modular bio-reactors, optimized via cloud computing, enable affordable and rapid scaling of production, aiming to improve human health, planetary sustainability, and transition towards animal-free agriculture.

Steakholder Foods specializes in developing and selling 3D-printing production machines for plant-based food manufacturing. Supported by proprietary premix blends, these tools enable manufacturers to create sustainable, high-quality alternatives to traditional meat and fish products.

Pearlita Foods is the world’s first cell-based mollusk company, established by Nikita Michelsen and marine biologist Joey Peters. The company specializes in producing cell-based oysters, aiming to satisfy the growing demand for seafood delicacies through sustainable practices. Utilizing cellular agriculture, Pearlita Foods cultivates oysters in a controlled environment using a nutrient-rich mixture, ensuring that the product is free from disease and contaminants. This innovative approach not only addresses the environmental challenges associated with traditional seafood harvesting but also offers consumers a safe and sustainable seafood alternative.

Vevolution is a platform facilitating investment and collaboration in the bioeconomy sector. It connects investors with innovative startups focused on AgriFoodTech, Climate Tech, Biotech, Next-Gen Materials, and Sustainable AI, providing tools for deal sourcing, engagement, and data management to accelerate sustainable technology development.

Umami Bioworks is a company focused on the discovery and development of a scalable platform for producing cultivated seafood, aiming to protect endangered marine species while providing consumers with sustainable seafood options. The company utilizes systems engineering to enhance the discovery and industrialization processes, facilitating local production that is both price competitive and environmentally responsible. Its innovative approach involves creating cell-based food products derived from fish cells and tissue, which are designed to be free from harmful substances such as mercury, antibiotics, microplastics, and ocean pollutants. By offering affordable, cell-cultured seafood and meat alternatives, Umami Bioworks addresses the growing demand for healthy and sustainable food choices.

De Novo Foodlabs specializes in developing animal-free dairy products and proteins that offer nutritional profiles identical to cow's milk. The company employs precision fermentation technology to create innovative ingredients that are sustainable, vegan, and free from antibiotics. By integrating bioinformatics and advanced biotechnology, De Novo Foodlabs modifies the functionality of proteins and essential nutrients, ensuring that its offerings are not only healthier for consumers but also easier to produce and less harmful to the environment. This approach allows food companies to take a phased strategy in creating healthier and more sustainable products for their customers.

Change Foods, Inc. is a food technology company based in San Francisco, California, focused on producing animal-free cheese and dairy products. Founded in 2019, the company utilizes precision fermentation technology to develop lactose-free, hormone-free, and hypoallergenic alternatives to traditional dairy. By harnessing the power of microbes, Change Foods creates bio-identical dairy proteins and ingredients, beginning with casein for cheese production. This innovative approach aims to reduce the environmental impact associated with conventional dairy farming while providing consumers with versatile and sustainable food options.

Ohayo Valley is a cultivated meat science and cell biology company focused on producing sustainably cultivated beef. The company employs a revolutionary process to recreate the protein, fat, and texture profile of beef, supported by five provisional patents and various trade secrets. By blending plant-based ingredients with cultivated meat, Ohayo Valley aims to develop high-quality products such as wagyu ribeye, providing consumers with delicious options that also reduce carbon emissions associated with traditional beef production. The company's innovative approach addresses both environmental concerns and the growing demand for sustainable food sources.

CELL AG TECH is a pioneering company in the field of cellular agriculture, focused on developing and producing sustainable cell-cultured seafood. By cultivating only the necessary cells to create seafood products rather than relying on traditional fishing methods, the company aims to eliminate issues such as overfishing, mercury contamination, microplastics, and environmental degradation. CELL AG TECH's innovative approach involves sourcing stem cells from fish to produce seafood that is not only price competitive but also cruelty-free and environmentally friendly. This technology aspires to provide a sustainable source of seafood, contributing to healthier dietary options while ensuring the preservation of marine ecosystems.

MeliBio, Inc. is a technology-driven company based in Oakland, California, founded in 2020 by Aaron M. Schaller, PhD, and Darko Mandich. The company specializes in producing vegan nectar products that serve as a molecularly identical alternative to traditional honey. By employing advancements in plant biology, precision fermentation, and synthetic biology, MeliBio creates honey without the involvement of bees, aiming to mitigate the negative impact of commercial bee farming on biodiversity. In 2023, MeliBio launched its consumer-facing brand, Mellody, further expanding its market presence. Recognized by TIME as one of the Best Inventions of 2021, MeliBio is committed to providing sustainable and innovative solutions in the food industry.

Mogale Meat Co. is a privately incorporated limited liability company developing real meat products from southern Africa’s prized wild antelope, poultry and free-roaming livestock, using advanced cellular agriculture technologies. The company is focused on developing a vertically integrated pro-diversity food technology platform to make healthy and nutritious cell-cultivated meat accessible to Africa's rapidly growing population and export to global markets. Mogale is Managing Partner of MeatOurFuture – an XPRIZE "Feed the Next Billion" semi-finalist.

Biftek is a biotechnology company that develops culture medium supplements to grow muscle stem cells for cultured meat production. Its microorganism-based growth media aim to lower costs and enable real meat without animals, slaughterhouses, or antibiotics, by supporting clean meat technology that does not involve genetic modification. Based in New Castle, Delaware, the company targets affordable meat production to meet rising global demand while addressing climate change concerns.

Novel Farms, Inc. is a Berkeley, California-based company founded in 2020 that specializes in the production of cell-based meat delicacies. It focuses on developing cruelty-free, low-cost, and tunable bioscaffolds through microbial fermentation and proprietary tissue engineering technology. The company's mission is to create gourmet meat alternatives that replicate the taste and texture of conventional meats, appealing to a new generation of conscious consumers. By producing whole-muscle cuts of cultivated meat, Novel Farms aims to make synthetic meat-based delicacies accessible and desirable, transforming the consumption of cell-based meat into a sought-after culinary experience.

De Novo Foodlabs specializes in developing animal-free dairy products and proteins that offer nutritional profiles identical to cow's milk. The company employs precision fermentation technology to create innovative ingredients that are sustainable, vegan, and free from antibiotics. By integrating bioinformatics and advanced biotechnology, De Novo Foodlabs modifies the functionality of proteins and essential nutrients, ensuring that its offerings are not only healthier for consumers but also easier to produce and less harmful to the environment. This approach allows food companies to take a phased strategy in creating healthier and more sustainable products for their customers.

California Cultured is a food company that uses cellular agriculture to produce cocoa and coffee, with the aim of delivering sustainable, lab-grown ingredients. Its cocoa is described as less bitter and requiring less sugar to achieve flavor, enabling premium quality products with a smaller environmental footprint. The company seeks to address social and environmental concerns linked to traditional cocoa production by avoiding practices such as slavery, deforestation, and child labor. California Cultured was founded in 2020 and is based in Davis, California.

Biftek is a biotechnology company that develops culture medium supplements to grow muscle stem cells for cultured meat production. Its microorganism-based growth media aim to lower costs and enable real meat without animals, slaughterhouses, or antibiotics, by supporting clean meat technology that does not involve genetic modification. Based in New Castle, Delaware, the company targets affordable meat production to meet rising global demand while addressing climate change concerns.