Technology Aids Meat Sustainability

With the growing world population, cultured meat and poultry technology is helping meet demands for protein through a sustainable, clean, environmentally friendly method. In turn, Cargill is investing in Memphis Meats Inc., a San Francisco startup company developing technology to raise meat from self-reproducing animal cells.

Cargill selected Memphis Meats because of the company’s proven technology, and its potential to commercialize which sets the company apart in the cultured meat and poultry space. For example, Memphis Meats says it has created beef, chicken and duck from self-reproducing cells without the need to raise animals. The company also claims to have produced the first cell-cultured meatball and cell-cultured chicken strip. Memphis Meats aims to bring meat to the plate in a more sustainable, affordable and delicious way.

As a leader in sustainable and responsibly produced meat, Cargill’s investment in Memphis Meats strengthens the Cargill’s sustainability initiatives, and represents the first stake in cell-cultured technology by a company that produces traditional meat products. Cargill strives to offer customers selection by growing its traditional protein business, entering into new proteins and investing in alternatives.

“We are committed to growing our traditional protein business and investing in innovative new proteins to ultimately provide a complete basket of goods to our customers,” says Sonya McCullum Roberts, president of growth ventures, Cargill Protein, in a statement. “Our investment in Memphis Meats is an exciting way for Cargill to explore the potential in this growing segment of the protein market. Memphis Meats has the potential to provide our customers and consumers with expanded protein choices and is aligned with our mission to nourish the world in a safe, responsible and sustainable way.”

Cargill believes consumers will continue to choose meat as a protein source, which is why the company is focused on producing products as sustainably and cost-effectively as possible. While Memphis Meats still has regulatory and cost prohibitive hurdles to overcome for its self-reproducing animal cell technology, Cargill understands that traditional meat and poultry, as well as new innovations like cultured meats, are both necessary to meet global demands for protein moving forward.
 

The Wall Street Journal, “Cargill Invests in Startup That Grows ‘Clean Meat’ From Cells,” by Jacob Bunge. Aug. 23, 2017. Go to: https://www.wsj.com/articles/cargill-backs-cell-culture-meat-1503486002

Cargill, “Protein Innovation: Cargill Invests in Cultured Meats,” Aug. 23, 2017. Go to: https://www.cargill.com/story/protein-innovation-cargill-invests-in-cultured-meats

Memphis Meats, “Memphis Meats Gains Support From Unprecedented Coalition,” Aug. 23, 2017. Go to: http://static1.squarespace.com/static/5674c0c22399a3a13cbc3af2/t/599d77dfa803bbe20ff02424/1503492063640/Memphis+Meats+-+Press+Release+23+Aug+2017+vFF.pdf
Food Dive, “Cargill Takes a Stake in Cell-Cultured Meat Startup Memphis Meats,” by Emma Liem, Aug. 23, 2017. Go to: http://www.fooddive.com/news/cargill-takes-a-stake-in-cell-cultured-meat-startup-memphis-meats/503278/