Israel PM becomes first head of state to taste cultivated meat

Cultivated meat – laboratory-produced from animal cells without slaughtering them – is sparking something akin to a ‘space race’ as the burgeoning alternative meat market takes off in countries as diverse as Singapore, Australia – and Israel.

Positioning the nation at the forefront of a global alternative protein ecosystem, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has visited Aleph Farms, a cultivated meat company and tried out its steak, becoming the first head of state to do so.

This event marks yet another milestone for the wider alternative protein industry. After Singapore made headlines last week, announcing the world’s first regulatory approval for the commercial sale of cultured chicken, Israel is taking its strides to develop a welcoming ecosystem for alternative protein innovation.

During the global space race to sustainably produce and supply high-quality meat and secure a stable food channel to the growing population, this move is set to place alternative protein as a key lever of growth for Israel.

Prior to the tasting meat, the PM, accompanied by the government’s animal rights advisor Tal Gilboa, toured the facilities, receiving an overview on the production process and about the company’s distinct sustainability vision.

Aleph Farms develops its cell-based meat directly from cow cells under controlled conditions. It uses a fraction of the resources required for raising real animal meat without antibiotics. It is still made from real animals, without harming them in the process.

Read the article by Kaycee Enerva in Inside FCMG.