Israel-based food-tech company MeaTech 3D has launched cultivated pork research and development (R&D) activities for the future mass production of cultivated pork.

The new research and development activities on cultivated pork will enhance of MeaTech’s offerings, which already includes cultivated versions of beef and chicken.

Initially, the Israeli firm’s activities will focus on developing stable porcine cell lines, and if successful, it will have the potential to initiate cultivated pork biomass production capabilities.

MeaTech said that pork is currently the most consumed meat across the world and its porcine cellular agriculture could enhance its reach across important markets.

MeaTech CEO Sharon Fima said: “Our goal is to lead the upcoming agricultural revolution by making tomorrow’s meat safe, plentiful and sustainable.

“MeaTech is developing a broad range of cultured meat technologies, developing potential alternatives to conventional factory farming of beef, chicken and now pork.

“We believe that offering additional cultivated meat product lines can widen our addressable markets, generating additional revenue potential.”

Headquartered in Ness Ziona, Israel, MeaTech develops a suite of advanced manufacturing technologies to produce alternative protein products.

These technologies have been designed to produce cell-based beef, chicken and enhancing plant-based foods with real meat.

MeaTech believes that the cultivated meat technologies are capable to improve meat production, simplify the meat supply chain and offer consumers a range of new product offerings.

In October 2019, Israel-based cultivated beef steaks producer Aleph Farms collaborated with Russian company 3D Bioprinting Solutions to produce its first slaughter-free meat in space.

The company had stated that it was successful in producing meat on the International Space Station (ISS), 339km away from any natural resources.