Israel: Aleph Farms creates cell-based, 3D-printed ribeye steak

Technology uses bioprinting and real cow cells without genetic engineering and immortalisation

Rehovot-based Aleph Farms and its research partner at the Faculty of Biomedical Engineering at the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, have cultivated a slaughter-free ribeye steak, using three-dimensional bioprinting technology and real cow cells, without genetic engineering and immortalisation.

Aleph Farms’ 3D bioprinting technology prints living cells that are incubated to grow, differentiate, and interact, in order to acquire the texture and qualities of a real steak.

The system, which is similar to the vascularisation that occurs naturally in tissues, enables the perfusion of nutrients across the thicker tissue and gives the steak a similar shape and structure to that of livestock before and during cooking.

Didier Toubia, co-founder and chief executive of Aleph Farms, said: “This breakthrough reflects an artistic expression of the scientific expertise of our team. I am blessed to work with some of the greatest people in this industry.”

Toubia noted the company recognises some consumers will crave thicker and fattier cuts of meat, and this accomplishment represents the commitment to meeting consumer’s unique preferences and taste buds, and we will continue to progressively diversify our offerings.

“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,” Toubia added.

Technion professor Shulamit Levenberg, Aleph’s co-founder and chief scientific advisor, said: “With the realisation of this milestone, 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.”