"CJ CheilJedang to Lead Cultured Meat Market, Signs Cell Culture Media Partnership with K-Cell"

[Asia Economy Reporter Eunmo Koo] CJ CheilJedang has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with a cell culture media production company to secure future food technology and take the lead in the cultured meat market.

CJ CheilJedang announced on the 23rd that it has signed a business agreement with KCell Biosciences for animal cell culture media and media material business. KCell is a bio company leading the localization of cell culture media, and once its factory in Busan is completed in the second half of this year, it will secure the largest cell culture media production capacity in Korea and the second largest in the Asia-Pacific region. Media refers to the nutrients used to culture microorganisms or animal and plant tissues.

Cell culture media accounts for the largest portion in cultured meat production and is a key factor in securing business competitiveness. Through this business agreement, CJ CheilJedang will develop and supply media materials used in cultured meat production, while KCell will be responsible for media production. CJ CheilJedang plans to secure competitive media for its cultured meat business.

CJ CheilJedang continues to develop technology and invest to secure sustainable future food sources. Last year, it launched the plant-based food brand ‘PlanTable’ and sells dumpling products both domestically and overseas. Additionally, through its in-house venture ‘Inno100,’ it has confirmed the commercialization of plant-based alternative milk. Furthermore, it is conducting research and development to secure various alternative protein sources, including plant-based alternative proteins using soybeans and peas, as well as fermented proteins using mycelium such as mushrooms.

Regarding cultured meat, since 2020, CJ CheilJedang has formed a task force to review commercialization, continuing its own research activities and open innovation. It is focusing on securing differentiated competitiveness by investing in promising overseas startups with advanced technologies such as Aleph Farms in Israel and Shiok Meats in Singapore.

A CJ CheilJedang official stated, “Cultured meat is a high-level biotech-based business where technology innovation companies can lead the global market,” and added, “We will actively work to secure future food resources through not only our own research and development but also active collaboration with companies and academia in the food bio sector.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.