The alternative protein sector never moves in a straight line – and this week was a reminder of just how complex the path to scale can be.
We start with a sobering story. A once high-profile cultivated meat player shut its doors despite regulatory progress and hundreds of millions in backing, raising hard questions about capital intensity, timelines, and what it really takes to survive commercialization.
Still, the broader picture is far from bleak. In China, cultivated pork reached a 2,000-liter pilot milestone, showing how steady engineering progress can quietly reshape what scale looks like in different markets.
That theme continued in fermentation, where industrial systems were switched on to upcycle brewer’s yeast into functional egg alternatives – a practical example of circularity meeting commercial readiness.
Elsewhere, protein made from air took another step toward scale as plans advanced for a second factory, underscoring how infrastructure decisions increasingly signal confidence, not speculation.
Closer to market, leaf protein moved from concept to application through real-world baking trials, testing how novel ingredients perform where it matters most – in everyday food products.
At the policy level, one US state laid out an ambitious roadmap to become a global hub for alternative proteins and biomanufacturing, highlighting how public-sector strategy is starting to match private-sector momentum.
And rounding things out, Latin America welcomed its first large-scale mycelium fermentation facility, a reminder that scale-up stories are no longer confined to a handful of regions.
As ever, the signal lies in the mix. Setbacks matter – but so does the quiet, cumulative progress happening across technologies, geographies, and supply chains.
Enjoy reading, and as always, let us know which developments you think will have the biggest impact next.
