MAASTRICHT, THE NETHERLANDS — Cultivated meat companies Aleph Farms and Mosa Meat have received an investment from Academy Award-winning actor and environmental activist Leonardo DiCaprio. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Cultivated beef production is projected to reduce climate impact by 92% and air pollution by 93%, using 95% less land and 78% less water than industrial beef production, according to an independent Life Cycle Analysis study. The cultivated meat market is forecast to reach $25 billion by 2030, according to McKinsey & Co. 

“One of the most impactful ways to combat the climate crisis is to transform our food system,” DiCaprio said. “Mosa Meat and Aleph Farms offer new ways to satisfy the world's demand for beef, while solving some of the most pressing issues of current industrial beef production. I’m very pleased to join them as an adviser and investor, as they prepare to introduce cultivated beef to consumers.”

Aleph Farms produces beef steaks from cow cells. Earlier this year the Israeli startup raised $105 million in a Series B funding round, bringing its total funding to more than $118 million. The company planned to use the proceeds to scale up manufacturing, growing operations internationally and expanding product lines and technology ahead of an initial market launch in 2022.

“As a committed environmentalist, we welcome Leonardo DiCaprio to our advisory board and family of top tier investors,” said Didier Toubia, co-founder and chief executive officer of Aleph Farms. “Our team is committed to improving the sustainability of our global food systems and we're thrilled to have Leo share in our vision.”

Mosa Meat introduced the world’s first cultivated beef hamburger, grown directly from cow cells, in 2013. Backed by Blue Horizon Ventures, M Ventures, Bell Food Group, Nutreco, Mitsubishi Corp. and others, The Netherlands-based food technology company is scaling production of lab-grown beef.

“Leonardo DiCaprio's work to bring about positive change is closely aligned with our mission at Mosa Meat,” said Maarten Bosch, CEO of Mosa Meat. “We are thrilled to bring him on board as adviser and investor and work together to feed current and future generations sustainably.”