As the global demand for protein continues to rise, researchers are turning to sustainable alternatives like cell-cultivated meat to reduce the environmental impact of traditional beef production. This innovative approach was the focus of the inaugural Omics4Cmeat Annual Symposium, held on June 17 at McMaster University.
The event marked a pivotal step in organizing the Canadian Consortium for Cultivated Meat (CCCM) – a national collaborative network aimed at accelerating innovation and bringing cultivated meat closer to commercialization. In attendance were partners from New Harvest, Myopalate, Agricultural Genomics Action Centre (AG-ACt) and Climate-Smart Data Collaboration Centre (CS-DCC).
We’re taking a comprehensive, end-to-end approach to the cultivated meat value chain – every stage to achieve the most efficient and cost-effective production possible.
Led by P. Ravi Selvaganapathy, professor and co-director of McMaster’s School of Biomedical Engineering, the symposium brought together leaders from academia, industry, and government to explore the future of cultivated meat. Selvaganapathy co-leads a $10 million project funded by the Government of Canada through Genome Canada and Ontario Genomics in partnership with the University of Toronto, the University of Guelph, the University of Alberta and Collège La Cité.
The Omics4Cmeat project seeks to revolutionize meat production by growing animal cells in bioreactors – like how beer or yogurt is made – and using organic scaffolds to replicate the texture and taste of conventional meat. By integrating genomic, proteomic, metabolomic and GE3LS (ethical, environmental, economic, legal, and social) approaches, the team is tackling the technical and economic challenges of scaling up production.
“We’re taking a comprehensive, end-to-end approach to the cultivated meat value chain – every stage to achieve the most efficient and cost-effective production possible,” says Selvaganapathy.
Laura Riley, Director of Sector Innovation and Programs at Ontario Genomics and a featured symposium speaker, emphasized that the initiative is not just about science; it’s about building a sustainable, scalable ecosystem for cultivated meat in Canada.
The project also explores the use of agricultural by-products and has potential applications in producing cell-cultivated chicken, fish and seafood.
“The Canadian Consortium for Cultivated Meat brings together experts across disciplines and partners with industry leaders in Canada and beyond,” adds Selvaganapathy. “Our goal is to accelerate innovation, break down silos, and position Canada at the forefront of this transformative field.”
