In another step toward viable, sustainable meat production, Israeli foodtech startup Aleph Farms and the Faculty of Biomedical Engineering at the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology have successfully cultivated the world's first slaughter-free ribeye steak, the company announced Tuesday.
Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter
Researchers used three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting technology and real cow cells, without genetic engineering and immortalization. Aleph Farms' new technology was unveiled only two years after it rolled out the world's first cultivated thin-cut steak, in 2018.
Aleph Farms says the new bioprinting technology allows it to produce any type of steak, and that it intends to expand its offerings.
Aleph Farms' 3D bioprinting technology prints living cells that are then incubated to grow, differentiate, and interact to acquire the texture and qualities of a real steak. A proprietary system, similar to the vascularization that occurs naturally in tissues, enables the perfusion of nutrients across the thicker tissue and grants the steak with the similar shape and structure of its native form as found in livestock before and during cooking.
Didier Toubia, co-founder and CEO of Aleph Farms, said that the breakthrough "reflects an artistic expression of the scientific expertise of our team" and that he was "blessed to work with some of the greatest people in this industry."
"We recognize some consumers will crave thicker and fattier cuts of meat. This accomplishment represents our commitment to meeting our consumer's unique preferences and taste buds, and we will continue to progressively diversify our offerings," Toubia added.
"Additional meat designs will drive a larger impact in the mid and long term. This milestone for me marks a major leap in fulfilling our vision of leading a global food system transition toward a more sustainable, equitable and secure world."
Technion Professor Shulamit Levenberg, a co-founder of Aleph Farms, said, "We have broken the barriers to introducing new levels of variety into the cultivated meat cuts we can now produce. As we look into the future of 3D bioprinting, the opportunities are endless."
Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!
