July 2, 2020

Israeli-based Redefine Meat introduces 3D printed plant-based steaks

Start-up Redefine Meat from Israel will launch its 3D printers capable of producing plant-based steaks that mimic beef in 2021 to capture the burgeoning alternative meat market, Reuters reported.

The company will begin testing its "Alt-Steak" product at high-end restaurants later this year, with plans to introduce its industrial scale meat 3D printers to meat distributors next year.

Eshchar Ben-Shitrit, Redefine Meat CEO said a 3D printer is required to mimic the animal's muscle structure. The 3D printer will be able to print 20 kg of meat hourly, which will be improved to hundreds of kg at a lower cost than real beef.

Redefine Meat was founded in 2018 and raised US$6 million in 2019 from CPT Capital, which also invested in Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods. The other companies that have invested in Redefine Meat are Hanaco Venture Capital and German poultry group PHW.

Stacy Pyett, who manages the Proteins for Life programme at Wageningen University & Research in the Netherlands said the market is looking for something that can recreate the texture of meat. However, she said the new technology may not solve the issues revolving around taste and flavour.

Barclays projects alternative meat sales to hit US$140 billion by 2029 or 10% of the global meat market.

Novameat, a Redefine Meat competitor in Spain is also developing a 3D printer that can produce plant-based meat. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Novameat produced a whole-muscle pork cut.

Giuseppe Scionti, CEO of Novameat said its technology will be available at top European restaurants in 2020, with the company scaling up the technology next year.

-      Reuters