"Food Science" Expert Manuscript: Current Status and Strategic Thinking on the Development of Bio-Cultivated Meat

Biologically cultivated meat is also called cultivated meat, cell cultured meat, clean meat, etc.

Wang Shouwei and Li Yingying* of China Meat Research Center, Beijing High-tech Innovation Center for Food Nutrition and Human Health of Beijing Technology and Business University, and Sun Baoguo of Beijing Laboratory of Food Quality and Safety, and others first started by alleviating the pressure of traditional aquaculture production and ensuring meat Explains the necessity of developing biologically cultivated meat in China from the perspectives of security of supply and improvement of human science and technology; then, it explains in detail based on the summary analysis of the development, capital investment, supervision and technology of biologically cultivated meat from the two aspects of development and problems.

1 Analysis of the strategic significance of the development of biologically cultivated meat

Relieve the pressure of traditional aquaculture industry

According to the latest life cycle assessment and techno-economic assessment analysis conducted by the research institute CE Delft in 2021, compared with traditional chicken, pork and beef production, biologically cultivated meat can reduce land by 63%, 72% and 81%-95%, respectively The usage can reduce global greenhouse gas emissions by 17%, 52% and 85%～92% respectively

Ensuring the safety of meat supply

According to forecasts by FAO and the UN Population Division, the global population will increase to about 9 billion in 2050 (Figure 1A).

Improve the level of technological development

Bio-grown meat is a product of food bio-manufacturing, and it is also a cross-product of cutting-edge science and technology including food science, biology, medicine, engineering, materials science and many other disciplines.

2 Current status and trends of global biologically cultivated meat

Industrial Development

Since 2013, as the concept of biologically cultivated meat has matured, a large number of biologically cultivated meat-related start-ups have been established around the world.

Capital investment

Based on the huge market-oriented prospects, biologically cultivated meat has attracted great attention from investors.

Supervision

The long-term development of the biologically cultivated meat industry not only requires technological research and development and capital investment, but also requires an appropriate regulatory system to ensure its healthy development

Technological development

From the perspective of technological development, the research and development of cell three-dimensional culture and differentiation technology based on 3D bioprinting or scaffold materials is the focus of current basic research

3 Current status and problems of biologically cultivated meat in my country

Industry development status

In recent years, with the country’s attention and the continuous maturity of technology, many domestic universities, research institutions, or companies have stepped in to carry out research on biologically cultivated meat, and the publication of papers in related fields has shown a rapid growth trend; at the same time, related companies in China will start from 2019.

Collaboration between disciplines and integration of production, education and research urgently need to be strengthened

The production of biologically cultivated meat is a product of multi-disciplinary integration and a comprehensive application of high-tech achievements.

The industrial environment needs to be optimized

The long-term development of the biologically cultivated meat industry not only requires breakthroughs in many core technologies at the level of basic research to reduce costs and improve taste, but also requires a large amount of social resources to support its large-scale production.

The regulatory framework has not yet been established, and the legal and regulatory system has not yet been laid out

Reasonable supervision is not only an inevitable measure to regulate the healthy development of the biologically cultivated meat industry, but also reflects the government's positive attitude towards the industry

The key technology needs to be broken through

Basic scientific research still needs to accumulate:

The development of cutting-edge life sciences, advanced materials, core equipment, key reagents, etc.

Urgent need to overcome the extreme space biological cultured meat manufacturing technology: In recent years, China’s space station and polar research station construction has made great progress.
Carrying out biologically cultivated meat-related research on the relevant extreme platform is important for verifying that biologically cultivated meat in a confined environment The feasibility of preparation, the direct supply of fresh meat for the space station personnel, and the provision of technical support for deep space exploration projects such as the lunar base and the Mars base are all of important strategic significance
.
It is urgent to study the influence of microgravity environment on cells and optimize the design of culture devices for confined space conditions, optimize stem cell culture and block tissue construction under microgravity conditions, and develop a biological cultured meat manufacturing process system suitable for space environments.
Key technology
.

4 Strategic thinking on the development of biologically cultivated meat in my country

Industry planning suggestions

Adhere to the four "faces" guiding ideology, lead multidisciplinary integration and integrated innovation, focus on the most cutting-edge scientific and technological achievements, focus on breaking through technological bottlenecks such as scale proliferation and excessive production costs, and realize the coordinated development of the biological field and the food industry.
Form a batch of major scientific and technological achievements and technical standards with independent intellectual property rights and market prospects, establish an internationally advanced biologically-grown meat research and development system and production base, and lead China’s new meat food industry to multi-field, multi-gradient and deep-rooted The development of hierarchical, high-tech, intelligent, low energy consumption, full utilization, high efficiency, and sustainable development will help China to enter the forefront of the global high-tech food power
.

Overall goal: To develop a batch of common key technologies with independent intellectual property rights, cutting-edge leading technologies, modern engineering technologies, and disruptive technologies required for the production of biologically cultivated meat.
The original innovation ability is in the international leader position, making China a global biologically cultivated meat technology Innovation center, the industrial level has reached the international leading level
.

Five-year goal (2021-2025): build a small-scale technology system, form a small number of single products, achieve efficient extraction and large-scale expansion of seed cells, develop small-scale 3D culture scaffold materials, and achieve partial replacement of medium Animal-derived ingredients, accumulate risk assessment data, formulate technical specifications and product standards for the production of biologically cultivated meat
.

Ten-year goal (2026-2030): Build a medium-scale technology system, increase product types, significantly improve product flavor and taste, realize the cultivation and shaping of various types of cells such as fat and extracellular matrix, and realize different species Efficient extraction of seed cells, realization of large-scale cell expansion, development of large-scale 3D culture scaffold materials, independent development of biological reaction vessels, and realization of low-cost serum-free special medium
.

Fifteen-year goal (2031-2035): build a large-scale technical system, realize industrialization, localize related supporting equipment, consumables, and reagents, and gradually reduce production costs
.
We have developed a richer variety of products with nutrition, flavor and taste that can better meet people's needs for meat
.
Through the investment and construction of the basic platform, we will develop a batch of common key technologies with independent intellectual property rights required for the production of biologically cultivated meat, leading edge technologies, modern engineering technologies, and disruptive technologies.
The original innovation capability is in an international leader position, making China a global biological Cultivate meat science and technology innovation center, the industrial level has reached the international leading level
.

Development countermeasures and suggestions

In order to speed up the development of China's biologically cultivated meat-related industries, prevent developed countries from forming technological monopolies in this field, guarantee China's future meat supply, remove subjective and objective obstacles that seriously affect the development of the industry, and improve the top-level design of China's biologically cultivated meat development.
Speed ​​up innovation and breakthroughs, and propose the following policy measures
.

Concentrate superior resources to overcome key technologies and prevent the formation of technological monopolies in developed countries: It is recommended to strengthen policy guidance in the research of biologically cultivated meat, to centrally sort out the key technologies required for the preparation of biologically cultivated meat distributed in different disciplines, and to organize a concentrated advantage The basic scientific issues required for the preparation of biologically cultivated meat shall be intensively tackled, and a batch of key technologies for the preparation of biologically cultivated meat with independent intellectual property rights will be quickly formed, so as to prevent developed countries from forming a technological monopoly on China in this field; at the same time, it is recommended to adopt existing technologies The addition of a separate category in the fund project increases the funding for related researchers to ensure the rapid formation of "point" breakthroughs, and the establishment of related science and technology plan projects to provide centralized funding to related innovation teams to ensure the rapid formation of "lines" and "planes" Break through
.

Expand investment in cultivating superior enterprises and promote the industrialization of biologically cultivated meat: It is recommended to include biologically cultivated meat-related industries in the "14th Five-Year Plan" strategic emerging industries, encourage research institutions and production companies to actively participate in related research and development and production, and have a research foundation through policy support and guidance Relevant research institutions and production companies actively carry out the engineering development of equipment, reagents, materials, processes, etc.
related to the industrialization of biologically cultivated meat, and expand investment to ensure that research institutions and production companies have sufficient funds to purchase relevant equipment to engage in biologically cultivated meat Production-related industrialization attempts to enhance industrial innovation capabilities and accelerate industrialization; it is recommended to provide financing incentive policies and financial support to related production companies, guide strong traditional food production companies to actively invest in the industrialization process of related industries, and prevent the entire industry from over-reliance risk The uncertain risks that investment may bring to ensure the healthy development of the biologically cultivated meat industry
.

Establish an industrial supervision system and promote the marketization of biologically cultivated meat: It is recommended to clarify the regulatory bodies and responsibilities of relevant government departments in the production of biologically cultivated meat, and to rationally divide labor; it is recommended that new components and new production processes used in the production of biologically cultivated meat should be clarified.
Carry out systemic safety assessment, form a complete set of independent standard system and objective supervision system in terms of product safety and nutritional composition evaluation, and promote the sound development of the industry
.
It is suggested that China should qualify biologically cultivated meat as a new food raw material and manage it in accordance with China's "New Food Raw Material Safety Review and Management Measures"
.
Formulate standardized guidance technical documents for the production process of biologically cultivated meat, covering the management of seed cell banks, cell proliferation, cell differentiation, cell acquisition, cell food processing, scaffolding materials, culture media and other biologically cultivated meat production.
Process
.
It is recommended to conduct scientific research and demonstration on the label and identification of biologically cultivated meat, and formulate label and identification management practices that can objectively describe the essence of biologically cultivated meat and can be clearly distinguished from traditional meat products, and at the same time have good public acceptance
.

Wang Shouweinan , professor-level senior engineer, chief expert of China Meat Research Center, Beijing Institute of Food Science, concurrently a member of the State Council Food Safety Expert Committee, executive director of the Chinese Society of Food Science and Technology, chairman of the Meat Processing Industry Technology Innovation Strategic Alliance , Enjoyed the special government allowance of the State Council, and won many honorary titles such as the Outstanding Contribution Expert of Beijing
.
He has been engaged in research in the fields of meat science and engineering and food safety for a long time, and is committed to the research of major key common technical issues in the meat industry and the industrialization of scientific and technological achievements
.
Presided over and undertook more than 20 national key research and development programs, national "863" programs, national science and technology support programs, public welfare industry special projects, and the National Natural Science Foundation of China.
More than 150 scientific papers were published and more than 10 authorized invention patents were obtained.
, Formulated and revised 8 international/national/industry standards, published 7 monographs, won 1 second prize for national scientific and technological progress, and 10 first prizes for provincial and ministerial scientific and technological progress (first completion person)

Li Yingying is a senior engineer

Li Yingying Female, senior engineer, director of the future food science and engineering research department of China Meat Food Comprehensive Research Center, and deputy director of the testing center
.
The main research areas: food safety testing, food authenticity of identification, cell culture meat research and development
.
Has undertaken 9 scientific and technological projects including National Natural Science Foundation of China, "13th Five-Year" National Key R&D Project, EU 2020 Horizon, and Chinese Academy of Engineering Consulting Research Project; participated in the formulation of 5 standards; applied for 15 invention patents, authorized 2 and obtained software 2 sets of copyrights; won 6 provincial and ministerial awards, including 1 second prize of the National Science and Technology Progress Award and 2 first prizes of the provincial and ministerial level.
In 2014 and 2020, they were rated as Beijing Youth Professionals, Beijing Excellent young engineer
.