Steakholder Foods Inks Landmark Agreement for Bio-Printing Technology in the Gulf

Israeli deep-tech cultivated meat company Steakholder Foods has announced a strategic partnership with an accredited governmental body based in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in the first of its kind multi-million-dollar collaboration.

Steakholder Foods, a member of the UN Global Compact, says the new partnership will help to address local food security goals across the Gulf region by leveraging its groundbreaking 3D printing technology to create hybrid fish products that are healthier and better for the planet.

‘A huge step forward’

Ultimately, the company says its goal is to establish a large-scale production facility — the first of its kind in the Persian Gulf region. To facilitate this, the agreement specifies an initial down payment to Steakholder Foods for the procurement of its 3D printer technologies, followed by a milestone-based sales and procurement plan for industrial-scale output.

“After intensive years of development, Steakholder Foods is excited to sign this first agreement with a strategic partner, generating our first income stream that represents one of the first substantial income agreements for a company in the cultivated meat industry, a huge step forward,” Arik Kaufman, CEO of Steakholder Foods, said in a statement. “We believe that we have chosen the right partner, and together, we are committed to advancing the cause of food security and creating a positive impact on the world.”

The strategic alliance aims to promote the scalability of Steakholder Foods’ 3D-printed food technology in GCC territories, including Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

Under this partnership, Steakholder Foods will contribute its expertise in providing mature Ready-to-Cook (RTC) 3D printer technologies and customized bio-inks, enabling the production of a diverse range of species-specific cultivated fish and meat products, as well as vegetable-based alternatives.

This innovative technology aims to overcome the limitations of traditional fish and meat production, delivering consistent, nutritious, and safe food products that closely resemble the taste, texture, and appearance of conventional meat, fish, and vegetables.

Looking ahead

Yair Ayalon, VP of Business Development at Steakholder Foods, sees the strategic partnership as a pivotal moment in the company’s journey towards commercializing its 3D printing capabilities. “Looking ahead, we remain committed to pursuing additional strategic partnerships to enable us to deliver innovative solutions for the foodtech industry,” Ayalon said.

The announcement follows Steakholder’s May debut of 3D-printed cell-based grouper fish — a world’s first made with bio-inks from grouper cells provided by Singapore-based startup Umami Meats, with which Steakholder initiated a strategic partnership last year.