AGWA and Believer Meats to Develop Cultivated Meat Capabilities in Abu Dhabi
15 Junio 2024 - 11:00AM
Business Wire
- AGWA and Believer Meats to collaborate on establishing
commercial, production, and research centers in Abu Dhabi
- The partnership with Believer Meats supports AGWA’s goal in
driving solutions to global food security and water scarcity
challenges
- AGWA to support with clear regulatory pathway and standard for
halal certification of cultivated meat products
AGWA (AgriFood Growth & Water Abundance), Abu Dhabi’s new
food and water cluster, and Believer Meats, a global leader in the
cultivated meat industry, announced their collaboration to develop
capabilities in cultivated meat, including an opportunity for the
company to establish a presence in Abu Dhabi, aiming to leverage
the Emirate's strategic location and resources to further its
growth in the Middle East & North African (“MENA”) region.
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(Left to right) Gustavo Burger, CEO of
Believer Meats; His Excellency Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi, Chairman of
the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED); Badr
Al-Olama, General Director of ADIO (Photo: Business Wire)
Believer Meats will pursue establishing a regional headquarters
in Abu Dhabi that can support commercial operations for regional
market expansion, product manufacturing, and research and
development. Bringing these industry-leading capabilities and job
opportunities to the region will play a key role in supporting
AGWA’s goal to lead global efforts in tackling food security and
water scarcity.
AGWA aims to capitalize on technological advancements to address
shifting dietary patterns and support global food security for a
reliable and resilient supply chain. The cluster will lead the
sector, driving advancements in areas like alternative proteins,
functional ingredients, algae farming, and reverse osmosis
membranes, while enhancing traditional food and water production
and supply.
A leader in the growing cultivated meat industry, Believer Meats
is focused on developing the world’s most efficient and scalable
cell-cultivation production technology to make safe, healthy, and
delicious cultivated meat products. The company is currently
constructing the largest cultivated meat production facility in the
world in North Carolina, USA, after its series B fundraise in 2021,
which was supported by ADM, S2G Ventures and others. The factory
will feature a state-of-the-art innovation center and tasting
kitchen, and is set to be operational by the end of 2024.
This strategic collaboration with AGWA aligns with Believer
Meats' vision for a global platform, offering an opportunity to
demonstrate a scalable, replicable model to effectively enter and
thrive in additional markets. AGWA and Believer Meats will also
explore establishing a Believer Meats Innovation Academy dedicated
to sustainable food technologies and developing future talent in
collaboration with Abu Dhabi-based universities and research
centers. AGWA will also work with Believer Meats to establish a
regulatory pathway and halal certification standards for cultivated
meat products in Abu Dhabi.
Badr Al-Olama, Director General of the Abu Dhabi Investment
Office (ADIO), said: “When Abu Dhabi established AGWA, it
sought to attract the greatest innovators in food and water. Our
partnership with Believer Meats is a firm example of this objective
coming to life. A base of operations in Abu Dhabi would enable
Believer Meats to bring the very best innovations and products in
cultivated meats to the entire region with speed and safety,
radically changing the dependency on imported food to the
region.”
Gustavo Burger, CEO of Believer Meats, said: “Partnering
with AGWA represents a significant step forward in our mission to
create a global powerhouse of cultivated meat solutions bringing
products to new strategic markets. This collaboration will not only
enable us to expand our operations, but also aligns perfectly with
our vision of creating a sustainable and more resilient global food
system. By leveraging AGWA’s innovative framework and support, we
are confident that we can address food security challenges and
bring our safe, healthy, and delicious cultivated meat products to
the MENA region and beyond.”
Led by the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED)
and Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), AGWA is set to become a
global hub for novel food and ingredients, as well as technologies
that increase access to and enable the efficient utilization of
water resources. This innovative cluster is meticulously designed
to support local suppliers and exporters alike, serving as a
platform to maximize commercial opportunities. The cluster aims to
meet increasing global demand, alleviate pressures on agricultural
systems, address shifting dietary patterns, capitalize on
technological advancements, and support global food security,
ensuring a reliable and resilient supply chain.
By 2045, AGWA is expected to contribute AED 90 billion in
incremental GDP to Abu Dhabi’s economy, create 60,000+ new jobs,
and attract AED 128 billion in investments.
About Believer Meats
Believer Meats is a cultivated meat company pioneering the first
scalable cultivated meat production system that can feed the world.
Based in Chicago, Believer's mission is to ensure that future
generations can enjoy the meat we know and love. Believer is
building a better future for people, animals and the planet with
meat that is delicious, sustainable, nutritious, and broadly
accessible. For more information, visit us at
believermeats.com.
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Media contact: Believer@thisisoutcast.com