University of Queensland researchers develop method to cut cultivated meat costs

Researchers at The University of Queensland have developed a circular recycling system designed to significantly lower the cost of cultivated meat production. The method utilizes microalgae to process waste generated during the manufacturing of lab-grown meat, turning leftover nutrients into a resource that can be fed back into the production cycle.

In this closed-loop system, the microalgae absorb nutrients from the waste while producing oxygen, which supports the growth of mammalian cells. In turn, the cells release carbon dioxide that the algae can utilize. Dr. Melanie Oey from the University of Queensland’s Institute for Molecular Bioscience estimates that this approach could reduce the cost of growth media—the nutrient-rich liquid required to keep animal cells alive—by between 60% and 90%.

Reducing the expense of growth media, which often requires costly amino acids and growth factors, is considered a critical step toward making cultivated meat commercially viable for supermarkets and restaurants. The project is being supported by an Australian Economic Accelerator grant and involves collaboration with cultivated meat producer Magic Valley to investigate integrating this system into large-scale production facilities.