EP08: Building Blocks of a Future Food System: Advancing Bioreactor Design and Reducing Costs
In this episode, the panel discussion, moderated by Nick Bradley, Editor of Protein Production Technology International, explores the significance of bioreactors in the sustainable production of alternative proteins. Experts, including Yash Mishra (Animal Alternative Technologies), Arpad Csay (GEA), Jack Reid (Unicorn Biotechnologies), and Yossi Quint (Ark Biotech), dive into the potentials and challenges of cultivated meat and fermentation-derived proteins. They emphasize the urgent need to address the existing shortfall in bioreactor capacity to meet global meat demand and discuss strategic approaches for enhancing bioreactor design and scaling up production. The conversation further differentiates the unique requirements for bioreactors in cultivated meat production versus those in biopharmaceuticals, considering cost implications, energy efficiency, and product quality. The episode wraps up with a reflection on the role of multinational food companies in this dynamic ecosystem and the necessity to strike a balance between scalability, efficiency, and sustainability in bioreactor design.