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Sustainable cultivated meat startup Magic Valley is set to lift its production capacity after expanding into a new state-of-the-art pilot facility at Co-Labs, a bio-innovation co-working space founded in 2020 to foster collaboration and create value with science and technology.
Magic Valley, which in July teamed up with US group Biocellion to simulate cellular behaviour in biorectors in order to cultivate meat more efficiently, describes its latest partnership with another Melburnian startup as a strategic milestone towards its mission of revolutionising food production.
The new facility will enable the company to safely enhance its cultivated meat production capabilities, fostering innovation and efficiency.
"We are excited to embark on this expansion journey at Co-Labs, which will greatly amplify our production capacity," says Magic Valley founder and CEO Paul Bevan.
"The ability to scale-up capacity to 3,000-litre bioreactors will not only accelerate our progress in providing sustainable meat alternatives but also reaffirms our position as a major player on the global stage.
"From this facility, we’ll be able to produce up to 150,000kg of product per annum."
As part of this expansion, Magic Valley will continue to collaborate with leading experts and researchers to further refine their production processes, ensuring top-tier quality and delicious taste while reducing the environmental impact of traditional meat production.
"Cultivated meat has the potential to bolster the sustainability and resilience of food systems everywhere – it’s such a big lever for transformative change," says Samuel Wines, who co-founded Co-Labs with Andrew Gray.
In a post about Magic Valley's work at Co-Labs, Wines says establishing a cultivated meat sector will stimulate the agricultural industry and immediately create jobs. Lab-grown meat company Vow is also present in the Co-Labs space.
"Unlike traditional livestock farming, cultivated meat production relies on inputs such as animal cells and growth media, likely sourced from Australia," Wines says.
"Consequently, this would open a novel market within the agricultural sector, aiding farming communities nationwide.
"By pioneering this industry, Australia can position itself as a global leader in sustainable food solutions, thereby augmenting its export income. This innovative industry could significantly contribute to Australia’s economic growth, simultaneously fortifying its international reputation as a champion of sustainability."
Magic Valley's latest strategic move occurs in the wake of several key global industry milestones for the cultivated meat sector this year, including the historic approval of cultivated meat for consumption in the US in June.
The company was not able to provide any updates around its previously announced US$3 million ($4.5 million) raise that was previously under way.
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