REHOVOT, ISRAEL — International food tech company Steakholder Foods Ltd. announced beginning development of a bovine cell line sourced from cattle raised on USDA-approved farms. The company hopes its strategy of early on implementing USDA-approved animals will help it stay ahead of the cultured meat approval process.

Steakholder Foods expects USDA to play a central role in approving cultured meat. USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service holds strict guidelines for commercial food production. To meet regulatory standards for approval in the United States, Steakholder Foods is ensuring that the tissue samples that it collects are properly vetted and sourced from healthy animals.

“We are excited that our latest cell development activity is moving the company forward on its path toward regulation,” said Arik Kaufman, co-founder and chief executive officer of Steakholder. “By working with USDA-approved farms and animals, Steakholder Foods is demonstrating its commitment to quality and safety. We aim to work with federal agencies as we perfect our processes for sustainable and scalable cultured meat production.”

Steakholder Foods has previously announced cultivation of beef, pork, chicken and seafood products.