Tuesday, December 1, 2020

Israeli startup makes plant-based flavor bases for alt meat, wins €100k

Beef steak made from cultivated meat cultures

Where's the beef?

That's not even the question anymore. Beef is no longer needed to make a juicy steak or hamburger as plant-based alternatives are becoming more and more ubiquitous. 

Flavor is key though. Unfortunately, the use of actual meat to enhance the flavor of meat alternatives is still commonplace, and it largely defeats the purpose of going meat-free. 

That's where Israeli startup The Mediterranean Food Lab enters the equation with its great-tasting alternative to the meaty flavor presently delivered by animal protein.  

The Mediterranean Food Lab has won an award of €100,000 from the EIT Food Accelerator Network (FAN) Program.

The FAN program is held at the Technion’s Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Engineering, in conjunction with the Strauss Group. FAN is a unique pan-European program established to catalyze significant breakthroughs, mainly by providing support and advice to new startups and entrepreneurs.

60 companies were selected among 400 applicants to participate in FAN. The Mediterranean Food Lab is now expected to compete in the European finals of the program, against other companies that have developed innovative technological solutions.  

Achievements of The Mediterranean Food Lab continue to support Israel’s leading position at the forefront of food-tech innovation. Israeli entrepreneurs have brought creativity and daring to the food sector, and it is not without reason that Israel is an important player in the global food-tech industry.

Read more about it here.

Off to have a veggie burger...or two, till next time!

J