Cell-based meat, poultry, seafood companies form advocacy, education alliance

Five food companies who are looking to bring cell-based/cultured meat, poultry, and seafood to restaurants and retail shelves in the United States have formed the Alliance for Meat, Poultry & Seafood Innovation (AMPS Innovation), a coalition focused on educating consumers and stakeholders about the new industry and advocating for a clear path to market for their products. Founding member companies include BlueNalu and Finless Foods, makers of cell-based seafood; Fork & Goode and JUST, makers of cell-based meat and poultry; and Memphis Meats, which is making cell-based meat, poultry, and seafood.

All five member companies, and other companies in the industry, are currently in the research and development phase but expect to make products available in the next several years, through appropriate regulatory pathways. In addition, the companies recognize that, as with all foods, consumers will want clear and transparent information about these products as they become available. AMPS Innovation aims to provide a central, unified resource for consumers, stakeholders, and policymakers as their industry advances.

In a joint statement, Lou Cooperhouse, cofounder and CEO of BlueNalu; Michael Selden, cofounder and CEO of Finless Foods; Niya Gupta, cofounder and CEO of Fork and Goode; Josh Tetrick, cofounder and CEO of JUST; and Uma Valeti, cofounder and CEO of Memphis Meats, said: “The Alliance for Meat, Poultry & Seafood Innovation was founded on a desire for members of our industry to come together and speak with a unified voice as we emerge as a viable, impactful partner in the overall food and agriculture sector. Over the past few years, each member company has made significant strides in the development of our products, and we are excited at the prospect that they will soon be options in the everyday diets of individuals. We are committed to an open and science-based dialogue with all stakeholders, including industry partners, policymakers, advocates, and consumers.”

In the coming months, AMPS Innovation intends to engage policymakers and stakeholders to educate them on its products in addition to working with Congress, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Food and Drug Administration as they continue to build out a regulatory framework for meat, poultry, and seafood that is grown directly from animal cells, rather than harvested from the animals themselves.