Aleph Farms has revealed plans to work with its local partners in Thailand including Thai Union to develop localised options of its cultivated beef steak
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Aleph Farms has revealed plans to work with its local partners in Thailand, including Thai Union, to develop localised options of its cultivated beef steak, on the heels of its recent application for regulatory approval in the country.
The firm submitted its application to government agency BIOTEC, which is a body under the Thai Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in charge of assessing the safety of cultivated meat products.
“We recognise that cultivated meat is a relatively new area for these authorities, and are maintaining continuous dialogue with regulatory agencies to ensure transparency and foster a collaborative approach,” Aleph Farms CEO and Co-Founder Didier Toubia told FoodNavigator-Asia.
“This submission marks the first and most significant step towards obtaining approval from the Thai FDA and this regulatory filing aims to enable the sale of Aleph Cuts in Thailand.
“The estimated decision time is approximately 18 months, although this timeline may vary.”
He also highlighted this as part of Aleph Farms’ collaboration with protein heavyweight Thai Union, saying the firm was ‘instrumental’ in guiding Aleph Farms through the Thai regulatory process.
“We chose Thailand as the next market to pursue as it boasts a rich culinary heritage, advanced food production capabilities, and a strategic position in Asia,” he added.
“This is in addition to its commitment to sustainability, a growing novel food sector, and Aleph Farms’ strong partnerships with local partners such as Thai Union make it an ideal market for driving innovation and growth.
“We believe that cultivated meat, like all food, should be localised to align with regional cuisines and preferences, so in collaboration with Thai Union and local stakeholders, we plan to tailor our cultivated steak Aleph Cuts to fit Thai culinary traditions and consumer tastes.
“There is still limited consumer awareness of cultivated meat in Thailand, but this presents a unique opportunity to shape the narrative and educate the public about its nature and benefits.”
The regulatory application has been submitted for general consumption of Aleph Cuts, but the firm has already confirmed plans to initially introduce this in premium foodservice settings.
“Our primary focus is on the inaugural cultivated Petit Steak of Aleph Cuts [but we are also] actively exploring additional opportunities to expand the product portfolio,” he said.
“We are also finalising plans for a production facility in Thailand together with local partners. The focus is on building production capabilities, refining product-market fit and ensuring a sustainable scale-up process to position Aleph Cuts for long-term success and market acceptance.”
Regulatory processes
To submit this application, Aleph Farms had to meet stringent safety and regulatory requirements in Thailand such as comprehensive food safety assessments, detailed product specifications, and robust documentation demonstrating the safety and compliance of Aleph Cuts with national standards.
The firm has already regulatory approval in Israel and submitted applications in Singapore, Switzerland, and the UK as well as advanced pre-submission consultations in several other countries.
