The start-up Aleph Farms has for the first time managed to grow meat from animal cells under microgravity conditions in the International Space Station.
The meat in the lab is starting to make its way. Produced from animal cells, its cultivation requires much less natural resources. And you do not need to slaughter the animals. A few weeks ago, a study revealed that by 2040, for obvious environmental reasons, much of the meat consumed in the world could be grown in the laboratory. But it is also about producing in space. This would be done in future distant missions.
Meat grown in the ISS
In this sense, a new step has been taken by the Israeli start-up Aleph Farms. The idea was to send cattle cells on board the ISS, transformed into muscle tissue in a 3D bio-printer. The production method here rests on the imitation of a process of muscle regeneration occurring naturally in the body of cattle. And the results are conclusive. This is the first time that meat (a few grams) is grown under micro-gravity conditions.
“In space, we do not have 10,000 or 15,000 liters of water to produce one kilo of beef,” says Didier Toubia, co-founder and CEO of Aleph Farms. This shared experience marks an important first step in achieving our vision of ensuring food security for future generations, while preserving our natural resources. ” Aleph Farms validates here a proof of concept, thus promising to the future explorers of the space of the menus with meat.
Still a little way to go
Also on Earth, the start-up aims to eventually offer “a meat of superior quality, healthier, more human and without slaughter, with the same taste, the same texture and the same structure as farmed meat” , can we read on his website. And again, some progress has been made. A few months ago, the company had indeed announced having developed a first steak from cells in the laboratory. The smell and texture were exactly the same as those of the “traditional” meat. Nevertheless, there is still some work on the taste.
It should also be noted that the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a few months ago their intention to supervise the production of laboratory-grown meat so that it can be sold safely. to consumers. This proves, once again, that this is a real challenge for the planet. And he is taken very seriously.
