CULT Food Science Corp. has made a strategic investment in 3D Bio-Tissues Limited (3DBT).
Based in the UK, 3DBT aims to produce biological tissue material that can be used for many different purposes, including but not limited to cultivated meat, synthetic leather, and collagen production.
CULT Food Science said the “venture” is an innovative biotechnology start-up that was spun out from Newcastle University and subsequently is to be acquired by BSF Enterprise PLC, which is a Special Purpose Acquisition Company (SPAC) listed on the London Stock Exchange.
The company said 3DBT's patented technology provides an alternative source of animal leather that is also resilient to the global leather market's supply chain and trade limitations. The global leather and allied goods market grew at a consistent cumulative annual growth rate of around 5% from 2014-2019, with expected growth in market value from US$290 billion in 2020 to US$336 billion in 2021 and an expected value of US$469 billion in 2025.
Built upon 20 years of research, CULT Food Science said the venture is working to apply novel manufacturing processes to generate complex tissue and cell structures. 3DBT is aiming to solve numerous production challenges in cell-based meat and has a goal of becoming a global leader in tissue-engineered products, which is an important aspect of cultivated meat production.
The venture's novel tissue-engineered products are bio-inspired, meaning that they can accurately replicate the natural structure of animal tissue.
3DBT operates out of The Biosphere, a fit-for-purpose laboratory and office building that supports novel biotech and life science companies in Newcastle. The Biosphere is situated in the heart of the Newcastle Helix science park and contributes to 3DBT's accelerated product development and IP advancement strategies.
"This investment in 3DBT is an important addition to our investment platform, as bio-tissues are a critical element of cultivated meat production, where scientific innovation is deeply needed. We are excited to help accelerate the growth of the Venture and will look to leverage potential synergies with our other portfolio companies in due course," said Dorian Banks, CEO of CULT, in a statement.
CULT Food Science is an innovative investment platform with an exclusive focus on clean, lab-grown food that is advancing the development of novel technologies to provide a sustainable, environmental, and ethical solution to the global factory farming crisis.
The first-of-its-kind in North America, it aims to provide individual investors with unprecedented exposure to the most innovative start-up, private or early-stage cultivated meat and cultured dairy companies around the world.
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