NEW TECH FOODS

Following the news that Simple Planet, a food-tech start-up based in Seoul, has announced its strategic initiative to pursue Halal certification for its cell-based food products, New Tech Foods spoke to Simple Planet’s Dominic Jeong to learn more about the certification and how moving into the global Halal market can help the cultivated meat industry gain more traction.

What motivated Simple Planet to pursue Halal certification for its cultivated meat products, and how do you see this move impacting your growth in the global market?

Our core mission is to make sustainable and ethical nutrition available to everyone. Pursuing Halal certification is a direct extension of that goal. Many Muslim-majority regions are in climate-vulnerable zones where livestock production is increasingly unsustainable. Halal-certified cultivated meat could offer not only ethical assurance but also food system resilience in regions like the Middle East, North Africa and Southeast Asia. We recognised early on that without Halal validation, a large segment of the global population – nearly two billion Muslims – could be excluded from the benefits of cultivated meat. By ensuring our products meet Halal requirements, we’re addressing both inclusion and market expansion. This opens up new opportunities in Muslim-majority regions and strengthens our ability to serve diverse global consumers.

Can you explain the significance of your collaboration with the Halal Science Center at Chulalongkorn University in Thailand and how it will facilitate the certification process?

Partnering with the Halal Science Center at Chulalongkorn University is part of our strategy to establish strong, science-backed certification processes. This collaboration sends a clear message: we are committed to meeting Halal standards and doing so in a transparent, verifiable way. Their expertise in Halal science helps us gain new insight and speed up the process by providing technical and religious guidance early in development, reducing uncertainties later on.

How does your serum-free culture medium, derived from probiotics, meet the requirements for Halal certification, and what advantages does it offer over traditional methods?

Our proprietary serum-free medium is entirely animal-component-free, eliminating concerns related to blood-derived or animal-slaughter ingredients – both of which are highly sensitive in Halal contexts. Using probiotic-based culture medium not only ensures compliance with Halal principles but also offers better scalability and cost efficiency compared to traditional fetal bovine serum (FBS)-based methods.

The Korea Muslim Federation’s Fatwa has acknowledged cell-based foods as Halal. What does this recognition mean for Simple Planet and the cultivated meat industry as a whole?

The Fatwa is an important recognition. While not globally binding, it sets a precedent by showing that cultivated meat can be compatible with Islamic laws when the right practices are in place. For Simple Planet, it validates the direction we’ve taken with our technology – especially our focus on using serum-free, animal-free culture mediums. For the broader industry, it marks an entry point for more structured engagement with Islamic scholars and regulatory bodies worldwide.

Can you describe the process involved in obtaining Halal certification for your products? What specific steps need to be taken, and how does this process vary from traditional food certification?

Halal certification for cultivated meat involves several layers beyond standard food safety checks. It starts with confirming that the source of the initial cells is Halal. Then, the composition of the culture medium must be verified to ensure there is no inclusion of non-permissible (haram) substances. The production process itself must also follow Islamic principles regarding cleanliness and separation. Unlike traditional food products, the process here includes both scientific review and religious consultation, which makes it more complex. But that also makes the outcome more meaningful, especially in terms of consumer trust.

What are the main challenges faced by cultivated meat companies when it comes to meeting Halal standards, and how have you addressed these challenges?

The biggest challenge is the absence of a unified standard. Cultivated meat is still a new category, and different Halal authorities as well as Islamic scholars have different views. That creates uncertainty. We’ve addressed this by being proactive – engaging directly with scholars, certification bodies and research institutions to build a shared understanding. Our use of a probiotic-based, serum-free medium from the beginning helps reduce friction by eliminating the need for animal serum, which is often a barrier in Halal and ethical approval processes.

How do you ensure that your production facilities and processes adhere to Halal principles, and what kind of inspections or audits are required before you receive certification?

Simple Planet implements various measures to ensure that its production facilities and processes strictly adhere to Halal principles. All of our R&D is now ‘Halal-ready by design,’ meaning we incorporate compliance checkpoints starting at cell isolation through to media formulation and production, minimising reformulation later.

Firstly, the bovine tissues we use for initial cell isolation are sourced from Halal-certified slaughterhouse in Korea. We are planning to apply the same sourcing standards to our future production facilities in Southeast Asia. We have also developed and use a proprietary serum-free culture medium derived from probiotics, which contains no animal-based or non-Halal components. This innovation replaces the traditionally used fetal bovine serum (FBS), thereby addressing ethical and religious concerns.

We work closely with food regulatory bodies and Halal certification authorities in key markets including Indonesia, Thailand, Korea and Singapore. Our production processes and products are regularly reviewed to ensure compliance with Halal standards. Notably, we have engaged in joint research and certification efforts with organisations such as Indonesia’s Badan Riset dan Inovasi Nasional (BRIN)/National Research and Innovation Institute, the National Food Institute of Thailand and the Halal Science Center at Chulalongkorn University. In Korea, we have partnered with the Korea Muslim Federation (KMF) to share technical data and engage in in-depth discussions, which recently led to a Halal fatwa specifically addressing cell-cultured foods.

To obtain Halal certification, we must submit comprehensive documentation of raw materials, manufacturing processes and equipment management. This is followed by on-site inspections assessing hygiene and operational standards, along with ingredient analysis of product samples. After certification is granted, regular audits and monitoring are conducted to ensure continued compliance with Halal requirements.

How do you anticipate the growing demand for Halal-certified cultivated meats will influence the future of food production and sustainability, particularly in Muslim-majority markets?

We expect it to create a strong push for alternative proteins that meet both environmental and religious standards. In many Muslim-majority regions, meat consumption is high, but supply is increasingly strained by climate issues, cost and logistics. Cultivated meat, if Halal-certified, can offer a reliable and locally produced alternative. It is not going to replace conventional meat overnight, but over time, it can help improve food security and reduce pressure on land and water resources. It’s a long-term shift, but one that’s already starting.

What role do you see Halal certification playing in promoting accessibility to cultivated meats, especially in regions where Halal food is a significant part of the diet?

Halal certification is more than a regulatory requirement – it’s a foundation of trust. In regions where Halal standards are a requirement for the community, certification ensures that cultivated meat is not only available but also accepted and embraced by the community. It lowers the barriers to entry for new food technologies and helps us reach underserved populations with sustainable nutrition that aligns with their values.

What are your plans for scaling production to meet the growing demand for Halal-certified cell-based products, and how will your partnerships and certifications help you achieve this goal?

Simple Planet is actively scaling up its production infrastructure. We are currently utilising 1,000-litre bioreactor scale with a monthly production target of up to 3.2 tons of cell-based proteins. To support this scale-up and ensure compliance with global quality standards, we are in the process of securing Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) certification for our facilities.

Partnerships and certifications are critical to our strategy for producing Halal-certified, cell-based products. In particular, our collaboration with the Korea Muslim Federation (KMF) has helped advance Halal rulings on cell-based foods. These developments, along with our expanding production capacity and close collaboration with certification and research institutions, are key to enabling Simple Planet to reliably supply Halal-compliant cultivated foods and become a trusted global brand in this space.

What impact do you believe your serum-free medium and Halal certification will have on consumer perceptions of cell-based meats, particularly among Muslim consumers?

Both elements are critical to building trust. Using a serum-free, animal-free medium directly addresses one of the most common concerns around cultivated meat – its reliance on animal-derived components. When paired with Halal certification, it offers clear assurance that the product complies with Islamic dietary laws. Together, they make cultivated meat both scientifically credible and religiously acceptable. We believe this combination will help shift perceptions and encourage adoption, particularly among Muslim consumers who may have been uncertain or cautious about new food technologies.

You have emphasised the role of cell-cultured foods in addressing the global food crisis. How does Halal certification fit into your broader mission of food security and sustainability?

Our broader mission is to support a food system that is sustainable, ethical and inclusive. Halal certification ensures that Muslim populations – one of the largest global consumer groups – are not left out of this transition. By aligning cultivated meat with Halal standards, we are making sure these products are accessible where they are needed most, including in regions facing supply chain stress or protein scarcity. It is a key part of ensuring that food security solutions reach all communities, not just a few.

Are there any future developments or innovations in your product line that could further strengthen your position in the Halal market?

To strengthen our competitiveness in the Halal market, Simple Planet continuously pursues technological innovations. One key advancement is our development of a serum-free culture medium derived from probiotic recycling. This innovation not only eliminates ethical concerns but also ensures compliance with Halal standards.

By overcoming the challenge of using animal-derived serum in traditional cultivated meat production, we have positioned ourselves to stand out in the global Halal market.

Looking ahead, we plan to expand our Halal-certified offerings beyond proteins and fats to include various functional ingredients and other cell-based food components. From the early stages of R&D, we integrate Halal certification requirements in collaboration with certification authorities, ensuring that our innovations support long-term sustainable growth in the global Halal food sector.

How do you plan to educate and build trust within the Muslim community regarding the safety and acceptability of cultivated meats, and what role will Halal certification play in this process?

We’re building trust by working closely with ethical, religious and food safety bodies, as well as universities and research institutions, such as the Halal Science Center at Chulalongkorn University. These collaborations help ensure that our processes are transparent, scientifically sound and aligned with Islamic principles. Halal certification plays a key role in this effort – it represents our commitment to compliance and respect for religious values, and it reinforces the safety and acceptability of cultivated meat for Muslim consumers.

What do you see as the biggest opportunities for the cultivated meat sector in terms of Halal certification, and how do you plan to capitalise on these opportunities moving forward?

The biggest opportunity is to become the first mover. We are the first company in Korea to reach out to the Korea Muslim Federation regarding our technology, which resulted in the approval of Halal Fatwa regarding cultivated meat from the institution. Halal-certified cultivated meat is still in its early stages, and companies that move first can help define consumer expectations, regulatory pathways and product standards. We plan to continue to lead by combining scientific innovation with ethical, cultural and religious norms. That means building strong relationships with Halal authorities, Food and Drugs Safety authorities and co-creating products with local partners who know their communities best.

Anything else you would like to add?

We believe that creating a sustainable solution is not just about how we produce food, but how we make that food available to everyone. Halal certification is a vital part of that journey. It is about more than compliance; it is about inclusion. We are committed to making sure that no community is left behind as the future of food takes shape.

You say Balboa Kitchen will enter global markets this year, including Southeast Asia and Japan. But this brand uses your cell-based ingredients, right? How do you plan to enter the market without regulatory approval, which will likely take at least a year after the application? And does that also mean you've applied/will apply in Japan?

Currently, Balboa Kitchen is entering global markets such as Southeast Asia and Japan with premium ready-to-eat meals, including granola, Korean-style oatmeal porridge and cup mashed potatoes. These products do not yet contain cell-based ingredients.

The brand is initially focusing on expanding brand awareness and distribution networks through conventional ready meals, while strategically developing cell-based food products that can be launched immediately once regulatory approval is secured. Regarding regulatory approval, we are closely monitoring the requirements of key markets, including Japan, and do plan to submit an application there. In the meantime, we are developing localised product plans and distribution strategies tailored to each market to lay the groundwork for the eventual launch of cell-agriculture-based foods.