NEW TECH FOODS

As the world confronts the challenges of food sustainability, security and supply constraints, cellular agriculture is emerging as a viable solution, offering an innovative approach to food production and potentially changing the F&B industry in the process. North Carolina (NC) is becoming a cell-ag leader, leveraging its foundations in agriculture and life sciences, its vibrant F&B sector and industry-specific resources. Mary Lesa Pegg, business recruitment manager for the Food Processing Industry, Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, provides insights into NC's cell-ag position, shedding light on the state's advancements in this field.

With cell-ag’s environmentally friendly processes and technological advancements in production, the industry has grown to have a market share worth more than $133 billion. More companies are entering the cell-ag market and are looking to grow and expand in North Carolina.

North Carolina’s history in the life sciences and agriculture industries has made the state a prominent choice for cell-ag companies. Since the 1950s, North Carolina has been a leader in life sciences, beginning in the Research Triangle Park (RTP). With more than 300 agricultural, life science and R&D facilities, companies and organisations, RTP is the largest research park in North America.

North Carolina’s life sciences presence continues to extend beyond RTP in clusters spread across the state, including the BioPharma Crescent which covers Johnston, Pitt and Wilson counties. The state powers innovations in life sciences with a workforce that is 66,500 people strong, which is 55% higher than the national average.

In 2021, North Carolina's F&B processing industry contributed significantly to the state's GDP, generating $15 billion and positioning it as the fourth-largest industry in the state. North Carolina's rich agricultural heritage, coupled with its thriving life sciences and biotech sectors, establishes the state as a strategic hub for innovative food and beverage enterprises, such as #BelieverMeats and #AtlanticFishCo.

Believer Meats is a cell-based meat company pioneering a scalable cultured meat production system. Founded in Israel in 2008, Believer Meats is prepared to scale-up production toward launching its products in the US, pending regulatory review. It recently announced it will establish its first commercial-scale food manufacturing facility in Wilson, North Carolina, investing $123 million and creating 100 new jobs.

While conventionally farmed meat such as chicken, beef and pork are often the initial associations with cell-based meat, it's important to acknowledge the significant role of seafood in this domain. There is an increasing demand for seafood, and with that comes limited supply. Some fish species are resistant to aquaculture, and wild-caught fish are constrained by strict quotas and an environment that is threatened by increasing temperatures and overfishing.

Atlantic Fish Co is a frontrunner in addressing this challenge. Founded in 2022, the Raleigh-based company cultivates fish from harvested cells, specifically black sea bass and halibut (both of which have supply constraints).

Atlantic Fish Co is working with the North Carolina Food Innovation Lab (NCFIL) and NCBiotech for technology development and loan funding. The NCFIL is assisting Atlantic Fish Co. in developing a food product with black sea bass, and the company received a $100,000 Small Business Research loan from NCBiotech’s Emerging Company Development loan programme to continue in these endeavours.

With the increasing demand for more environmentally friendly food options and advancement in food production capabilities, cell-ag will increasingly make its mark on the F&B industry in states such as North Carolina.

With its thriving F&B and life sciences industries, resources such as the NCFIL and NCBiotech, three tier-1 research universities and the largest manufacturing workforce in Southeast US, the state can support innovative cell-ag companies and be a part of a sustainable food future.