NESS ZIONA, ISRAEL – MeaTech 3D Ltd., a manufacturer of meat made from animal cells, successfully generated a 3.67-oz cultured steak composed of cultivated animal fat and muscle cells using 3D bioprinting technology.

“Today’s breakthrough is the culmination of over one year’s efforts in our cellular biology and high-throughput tissue engineering processes, as well as our precision bioprinting technology,” said Sharon Fima, chief executive officer and chief technology officer, MeaTech. “By bio-printing a 3.67-oz steak comprised of living tissue, we believe we have both validated our core technologies and placed ourselves at the forefront of the race to develop high-end, real cell-based cultivated premium meat products.”

MeaTech’s proprietary process isolates bovine stem cells from tissue samples and multiplies them. Upon reaching sufficient cellular mass, stem cells are formulated into bio-inks compatible with the company’s proprietary 3D bio-printer.

“The bio-inks were printed from a digital design file of a steak structure,” the company said. “The printed product was placed in an incubator to mature, where the printed stem cells were differentiated into fat and muscle cells that develop into fat and muscle tissue, respectively, to form the MeaTech steak.”

The company said the cultivated steak is comprised of muscle and fat cells and does not contain any soy or pea protein used to make plant-based alternatives. MeaTech’s goal is to continue improving upon its bio-printing and cultivation technologies to produce cultivated meat that better mirrors the key characteristics of farm-raised, premium steak.