Aleph Farms has confirmed it is targeting to debut its cultivated steak in “select” Singapore restaurants next year after securing local regulatory approval, its second such undertaking after Israel.
The Israel-based company, which is using co-manufacturing partners to cut down on costs, received its first approval for cultivated beef in its domestic market in 2023 from the country’s Ministry of Health but has yet to commercially launch its inaugural product.
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“We are continuing to set up production capacity in Singapore with our partner Cell Agritech, and we are targeting a launch with select restaurant partners in the first half of 2027, with volumes expanding through 2028,” a spokesperson for Aleph Farms told Just Food.
“In addition to Singapore and Israel, we have submitted formal regulatory dossiers in the UK, Switzerland, and Thailand, along with additional markets we are not naming at this stage.”
In a separate statement, the business said the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) has approved its ‘Cultivated Thin-Cut Steak’ for sale in the city-state.
The product is the first in the company’s ‘Aleph Cuts’ line, which uses a hybrid composition that blends cultivated beef cells with plant proteins.
Aleph Farms’ spokesperson explained: “The cell inclusion rate across our first product line ranges between 10% and 20%, with a soy and wheat protein matrix making up the balance.
“That level is what delivers the taste, texture and nutritional profile of the product, and inclusion rates in that range are not uncommon for hybrid cultivated products at this stage of the industry.”
Co-founder and CEO Didier Toubia said in the statement: “Singapore has built one of the world’s strongest ecosystems for cultivated meat and this clearance allows us to move toward scaling-up our commercialisation in Asia on a capital-efficient footing.
“Food security calls for diversification of animal-protein sources. Our aim is to complement conventional beef supply chains, not replace them, and Singapore is a practical place to begin that work in the region.”
According to the company, Aleph Cuts are cultivated meat made with cow muscle and collagen to provide a meaty flavour, texture and nutrition. The company’s Cultivated Thin-Cut Steak is produced using “non-modified cells” sourced from a Black Angus cow.
“Many vegetarians and vegans” define Aleph Cuts as vegetarian-friendly and vegan-friendly due to the product’s slaughter-free production method, the company’s website states.
The Singapore approval follows Aleph Farms’ decision to position the city-state as its Asia-Pacific “innovation and scale-up” hub.
To mitigate the overhead costs of building “capital-intensive greenfield plants”, the company has entered a contract development and manufacturing partnership with local firm Cell Agritech to pursue its regional commercialisation.
Aleph Farms’ spokesperson confirmed that regulatory approval in Singapore is based on a case-by-case basis. Additional products would need separate clearance depending on the make-up.
“Amendments to an approved product or manufacturing process may be handled through updates to the existing authorisation, depending on the nature of the change,” the spokesperson said.
“Follow-on products would also be subject to regulatory review. Products based on the same cell source and manufacturing platform may be eligible for a more streamlined review if the changes are limited.
“In contrast, products involving different cell sources, species, manufacturing processes, or other significant changes would likely require a more comprehensive regulatory assessment.”
Last September, in an interview with Just Food, Toubia confirmed that the company was developing a strategy to set up Swiss operations as a hub for Europe and then expand to the UK and potentially Germany and Austria.
