TurtleTree Scientific will be working with cell-based meat companies on the production of food grade growth factors
Singapore based startup TurtleTree Labs has announced the launch of TurtleTree Scientific, dedicated to the growth of food grade growth factors. Despite the costs of producing cell-based meat declining over the years, the cell culture media and growth factors remain one of the biggest cost contributors, hindering the path to market.
What does this mean for the cellular agriculture industry? In early 2021, TurtleTree Scientific will be working with cell-based meat companies on the production of food grade growth factors. The prices are expected to be a fraction of pharmaceutical grade equivalents on the market. Singapore, as the first country in the world to approve the sale of cell based meat products, is strategic as the country is bound to attract the attention of more cell-based companies and has existing customers that it can scale with.
The availability of cost-efficient growth factors will be essential for cellular agriculture to validate its economic feasibility. In addition, Singapore is also a regional biotech hub where quality growth factors are in high demand for their use in the life sciences industry.
Bruce Fredrich the executive director of Good Food Institute is very excited for this launch. “Singapore for the win again. The exciting work being done at Turtle Tree Labs is happening with tremendous support from the government, and other governments need to follow Singapore’s lead. Governments are interested in stopping the next pandemic and in keeping antibiotics working, and governments want to meet their climate obligations under the Paris climate agreement, so governments should be following Singapore’s lead and doing all they can to create a welcoming environment for innovative companies like TurtleTree Labs. Right now, Singapore is in a class by itself; other governments need to step up.”
