Meat consumption is increasing steadily, particularly in developing countries. Experts predict that relying solely on animal protein will not be sustainable enough to feed the growing global population, potentially leading to negative environmental consequences. Cultivated meat, or as it is also known, cultured meat, presents a promising alternative, providing the taste and texture of traditional meat without the same environmental impact. Cultivated meat is grown directly from cells in a sterile bioreactor, mimicking conventional meat at a molecular level without animal slaughter. This lab grown meat uses land efficiently, benefiting biodiversity and climate while avoiding fecal contamination and reducing antibiotic use.

The cultured meat process starts with an animal biopsy, followed by cell banking, growth, harvesting, and product formulation. Finding the right cell culture medium and bioreactors for large-scale production is a key challenge. Membranes are crucial for purifying sterile air, recycling used media, and separating harvested cells. A recent study published in Nature showed that crossflow technology with bioreactors could continuously purify and replenish growth media while removing impurities. Pall’s crossflow technology is renowned for its high performance and reliability in sensitive production processes.