BRF and Aleph Farms partner to bring cultivated meat to Brazil

Brazilian meat company BRF has established a new partnership with Israel-based start-up Aleph Farms, in an effort to bring cultivated meat to Brazil.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will see the companies co-develop and produce cultivated meat using Alephs’ patented production platform (BioFarm). As part of the agreement, BRF will distribute the cultivated beef products in Brazil.

Together, the companies aim to explore the commercial potential of cultivated meat in the Brazilian market, while delivering on their sustainability goals. The MoU is in line with Brazil’s commitment to reducing total net greenhouse gas emissions by 43% in 2030.

The partnership forms part of BRF’s 2030 Vision strategy, which will see the meat giant invest more than BRL 55 billion ($10.7 billion) over the next decade. In 2020, BRF plans to invest over BRL 155 million ($28.8 million) in projects to reduce its environmental impact.

“BRF is ready and charged to play a leading role in this food revolution and be an active participant in one the greatest industry transformations of this generation,” said Lorival Luz, CEO of BRF.  

Sergio Pinto, director of innovation at BRF, added: “This is yet another step that strengthens the innovative journey of BRF to offer a choice of alternatives to consumers, optimise efficiency and at the same time reduce the strain on the production chain.

“By producing high-quality sustainable cultivated meat, we can further establish our role as agents of transformation in the food industry, by offering the latest innovations in the production of meat.”

Aleph Farms’ partnership with BRF advances its strategy to integrate into the existing global food ecosystem and follows its MoU with Mitsubishi Corporation’s Food Industry Group, which will see the exploration of cultivated meat in Japan.

Didier Toubia, co-founder and CEO of Aleph Farms, said: “Leveraging the expertise and infrastructure of leading food and meat companies will drive a faster scale-up of cultivated meat and eventually lead to a broader positive impact.

“As one of the largest beef producers in the world, Brazil is a strategic market for us. We have been impressed by the strong commitment from BRF management to innovation and sustainability. We are convinced that shared values are the key to a successful long-term partnership.”