Brazilian meat processor BRF has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Israeli cultivated beef steaks producer Aleph Farms to introduce cultivated meat into the Brazilian market.

Under the MoU, the companies have agreed to co-develop and produce cultivated meat using Aleph’s patented BioFarm production platforms.

The cultivated meat products will be distributed by BRF in Brazil.

Aleph Farms co-founder and CEO Didier Toubia said: “We are thrilled to join forces with BRF, a global food and meat industries leader. This new partnership advances Aleph Farms’ strategy to integrate into the existing ecosystem as part of our go-to-market plans.

“Leveraging the expertise and infrastructure of leading food and meat companies will drive a faster scale-up of cultivated meat and eventually lead to a broader positive impact. As one of the largest beef producers in the world, Brazil is a strategic market for us.

“We have been impressed by the strong commitment from BRF management to innovation and sustainability. We are convinced that shared values are the key to a successful long-term partnership.”

The partnership will help BRF to diversify its offering portfolio and bolster its supply chain while reducing its environmental impact.

The partnership with Aleph is part of BRF’s 2030 Vision strategy.

BRF CEO Lorival Luz said: “BRF is ready and charged to play a leading role in this food revolution and be an active participant in one the greatest industry transformations of this generation.

“Since 2014, we have witnessed an increasing global demand for new sources of protein driven by several factors, namely environmental concerns, new diets and lifestyles, which has spurred the growth of new dietary genres, including flexitarianism, vegetarianism and more.”

In January, Aleph Farms signed a memorandum of understanding with Mitsubishi Corporation to sell lab-grown beef in Japan.