
Dutch cultivated meat producer Mosa Meat has recently taken two significant steps toward introducing its products to global markets. The company submitted a request for Novel Foods market authorization to the European Union and launched a crowdfunding campaign to expand its research, development, and production efforts. These milestones underscore Mosa Meat’s commitment to pioneering the cultivated meat sector and aligning with global sustainability goals.
Novel Foods Authorization Submission
Mosa Meat has formally submitted its approval application to the European Union for cultivated fat, a key ingredient in its cultivated beef products such as hamburgers and meatballs. The request marks a pivotal moment in the company’s strategy to navigate the EU’s stringent regulatory framework. Under these regulations, cultivated ingredients must be evaluated individually, contrasting with countries like Singapore, where entire products undergo assessment.
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the European Commission will evaluate the submission and are expected to decide within 18 months. If approved, Mosa Meat will market its products across all 27 EU member states and the three European Economic Area countries. This submission is only the second instance of a cultivated meat company entering the EU’s Novel Foods process, following a similar filing by French startup Gourmey in mid-2024.
Mosa Meat’s focus on cultivated fat highlights the importance of traditional beef's taste, aroma, and mouthfeel, all of which are critical to consumer acceptance. CEO Maarten Bosch emphasized, “Fat is the soul of flavor,” reflecting the ingredient’s central role in delivering a satisfying culinary experience. Beyond its use in cultivated beef, the fat could also enhance plant-based alternatives, which often struggle to achieve comparable sensory qualities.
Crowdfunding Campaign
To complement its regulatory efforts, Mosa Meat has launched a crowdfunding campaign, inviting individual investors from over 180 countries to participate in the company’s mission. Residents of the United States, Canada, Japan, and Russia won't be able to apply due to legal restrictions. Shares are being offered on a first-come, first-served basis, providing early supporters with an opportunity to invest alongside prominent backers like Leonardo DiCaprio, Sergey Brin, and Chris Sacca’s Lowercarbon Capital.
The funds raised through this campaign will accelerate research and development, secure regulatory approvals, and support marketing and production for the company’s first consumer-ready products. Mosa Meat has already raised over €120 million in funding, with €40 million coming from recent institutional investments by firms such as Merck Ventures and Lowercarbon Capital. These resources position the company to advance its core technology, which cultivates beef directly from animal cells. This approach aims to replicate the taste and texture of conventional meat while significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions, water use, and land requirements.
With regulatory applications already underway in the EU and Singapore and additional filings for the UK and Switzerland Mosa Meat plans to enter multiple markets. However, the company acknowledges that timelines for market introduction remain contingent on research progress and regulatory decisions.
Building Support and Collaboration
A key objective of the crowdfunding initiative is to build a community of early supporters who share Mosa Meat’s vision for a sustainable and ethical food system. “Crowdfunding allows us to invite our earliest supporters to truly become part of the Mosa Meat journey,” the company stated. By engaging individual investors, Mosa Meat aims to foster a sense of shared ownership and collaboration as it works toward market introduction.
Mosa Meat’s efforts extend beyond funding and regulatory compliance. The company has partnered with Michelin-starred chef Hans van Wolde, who praised the quality of its cultivated fat after tasting its burgers. Such endorsements highlight the products' culinary potential and growing acceptance within the food industry.
Mosa Meat’s advancements reflect broader trends in the food industry, where cultivated meat is viewed as a solution to pressing challenges such as food security and environmental sustainability. Compared to traditional meat production, cultivated beef is projected to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, land use, and water consumption. Additionally, its sterile manufacturing process minimizes risks associated with pathogens and antibiotic use, addressing public health concerns linked to conventional farming.
By focusing on innovation, regulatory compliance, and community engagement, Mosa Meat is positioning itself as a leader in the cellular agriculture sector. Its dual strategy of regulatory submission and crowdfunding accelerates its path to market and reinforces its commitment to creating a resilient and sustainable food system. As the company progresses, it remains focused on advancing cellular agriculture at scale, fostering partnerships across the food industry, and redefining the future of meat production.
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