Brazil’s BRF invests US$2.5 million in Israeli Aleph Farms to produce artificial meat

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The investment is part of the Israeli startup’s second round of funding, which has raised US$105 million from companies worldwide.

BRF food company on Wednesday (7) announced it has invested US$2.5 million in Israeli startup Aleph Farms, intending to produce meat grown from non-GMO beef cells by 2024, a company executive said.

“The company’s Vision 2030 aims to continue to produce healthy and sustainable food. And within this pillar of new proteins, as well as plant-based meat, cultured meat technology is one of its paths,” said BRF’s New Business Vice President Marcel Sacco.

Unlike other BRF partnerships and acquisitions, this time the company conducted a venture capital transaction, which will secure the use of Aleph Farms’ technology.

Sacco pointed out that the partnership with Aleph Farms, one of the main global players in cultivated meat, was signed in March this year and is an important step in BRF’s development of alternative proteins.

Sacco believes there is consumption potential in Brazil, but work will also be done to drive demand. “Like any technological innovation, there is much cultural work needed, the same that happened with vegetable proteins…. To the extent that this technology is available in product form, we will work on that,” he said.

The production of this type of meat begins with the collection of high quality cells from animals, without slaughtering them. The cells are cultivated outside the animal’s body with the supply of nutrients and a suitable environment for their development.

Still in its testing phase, the protein may reach the Brazilian market in the form of hamburgers, meatballs, sausages, or steaks.

The investment is part of the Israeli startup’s second round of funding, which has raised US$105 million from companies worldwide. Total contributions obtained in the first round reach US$118 million.

According to a BRF statement, the funds obtained by Aleph will be used to execute plans to market and sell meat grown on a large global scale.

“Studies based on Life Cycle Analysis methodology show that the production of cultivated meat has the potential to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, in addition to reducing the use of land for animal husbandry by over 90% and the use of water by up to 50%.”

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