USDA says ’yes’ to Mission Barns’ cultivated pork fat – now the scaleup begins

It’s been a week of major milestones across the alternative protein landscape – from regulatory breakthroughs in the USA and Asia to fresh product launches and funding rounds in Europe and beyond. Whether you're tracking cultivated meat, fermentation, or functional crops, there’s plenty to chew on.

First though, big news from the USA this week, where cell-cultivated pork fat has officially received the USDA green light. As this key ingredient edges closer to market, one producer is already ramping up commercial plans with foodservice firmly in its sights.

Meanwhile, another cultivated milestone: the completion of what’s being hailed as the world’s first large-scale facility of its kind. As one approval lands and another gets renewed, are we finally seeing the infrastructure catch up with the innovation?

Asia’s pet food market could also be in for a shake-up, with Singapore’s regulators approving a cultivated meat product – this time not for humans, but for our four-legged friends.

Back in Europe, calls are growing louder for political momentum on alt proteins. In Germany, high-level advisors have urged the Agriculture Ministry to back a national strategy – just as one leading fungi-based player unveils a new minimally processed product that leans into short, clean ingredient lists.

Across the Atlantic, algae is drawing serious investor interest as demand grows for omega-3s without the fish. And in Israel, protein-packed potatoes are being prepped for the snack aisle.

Rounding things off: don’t miss our exclusive interview with Seth Roberts from GFI Europe on the current state of regulation – and the pragmatic steps the sector must take to navigate the road ahead.

And finally, a quick reminder: our latest free-to-attend webinar takes place tomorrow! Beyond the Farm: Biomass Food Systems for a Resource-Scarce Future, in partnership with Arborea, brings together speakers from Danone, MISTA, Planetary, dsm-firmenich, and the Bezos Centre for Sustainable Protein. Click here to grab one of the last-remaining seats!

To stay ahead of the curve in the world of alternative protein production, you can follow us on LinkedIn for daily updates and breaking news and look on our website for loads more developments.

🥓 Mission Barns gains USDA approval for cultivated pork fat as it plots strategic scale-up

🏭 Believer Meats secures FDA green light and completes world’s first large-scale cultivated meat facility

📜 FPP Amsterdam Speaker Exclusive: Regulation, reality, and the road ahead – GFI Europe's Seth Roberts on making Europe work for alternative proteins