SAN FRANCISCO — Good Meat, the cultivated meat division of Eat Just Inc., recently announced that it would build some of the largest bioreactors in the world to grow cell-based products.
The company signed a multi-year agreement with ABEC Inc., to design, manufacture, install and commission 10, 250,000-liter bioreactors that will create chicken and beef cells in the United States.
Good meat said that 30 million lbs of meat would be produced at a future complex once fully operational. The company said it would finalize the location of the site in the next three months and continued to work with the Food and Drug Administration and the US Department of Agriculture on regulatory approval.
In May, ADM and Eat Just announced a joint development agreement to advance cultivated meat processing technology by optimizing nutrients needed to grow cultured meat cells.
“Our first step was receiving regulatory approval and launching in Singapore,” said Josh Tetrick, co-founder and chief executive officer of Eat Just. “Our second step has been selling to customers through restaurants, street vendors and delivery platforms. We’ve learned that consumers want this, and we’re ready to take the next step to make this happen at commercial scale. I am very proud to partner with the ABEC team to make this historic facility happen.”
Bioreactors are also being designed and manufactured at Good Meat’s Alamaeda, Calf., headquarters and scheduled to be operational in the fourth quarter of 2022. Another facility is planning to be opening in Singapore by first quarter of 2023.
Good Meat products have been available for purchase in Singapore since December 2020.
ABEC designed manufacturing facilities in Springfield, Mo., and Bethlehem, Pa. The company developed the first production-scale bioreactors in the 1980s and the first bioreactors larger than 10,000 liters in the 1990s.
“We are proud that our capabilities will help enable this exciting new industry. We look forward to continuing our tradition of innovation and supporting Good Meat’s success,” said Scott Pickering, CEO and chairperson of ABEC.