Hoxton Farms Teams Up with Mitsui Chemicals to Revolutionize Biomanufacturing
[Disclosure: AgFunderNews’ parent company AgFunder is an investor in Hoxton Farms.]
In a significant move for the cultivated fat sector, UK-based startup Hoxton Farms has announced a strategic partnership with Japan’s renowned Mitsui Chemicals. The collaboration aims to enhance biomanufacturing processes across various industries, including food, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and sustainable materials.
As part of this partnership, Mitsui Chemicals has invested strategically in Hoxton Farms, aiming to leverage Mitsui’s advanced materials in Hoxton’s bioreactor technology. This collaboration seeks to streamline the production of cultivated fat and other cell-based products on a larger scale.
Integration of Advanced Polymer Technology
Hoxton Farms has already initiated a partnership with the Japanese firm Sumitomo Corporation to incorporate its cultivated fats into food products. According to Hoxton’s CEO Max Jamilly, the startup plans to integrate a specialty polymer designed by Mitsui into its bioreactors to optimize production efficiency. “This polymer will improve COGS, yield, and manufacturability, helping us reach large-scale commercial production,” stated Jamilly, a synthetic biologist who cofounded Hoxton in 2020.
Initially focusing on the production of cultivated fat, Jamilly notes that this technology could eventually broaden its applications, extending to drug discovery, regenerative medicine, and cell and gene therapy. “Mitsui Chemicals’ combined expertise in materials science and global manufacturing makes them an ideal partner for that journey,” he added.
Challenges and Future Prospects in Biomanufacturing
Japan has emphasized biomanufacturing as a key component of its bioeconomy strategy, with similar initiatives underway in South Korea and China. Despite these efforts, Jamilly points out that scalable and cost-effective biomanufacturing infrastructure poses a significant challenge.
Most players in the cultivated meat industry currently utilize stirred tank reactors (STRs)—steel vessels that stir the contents to maintain cell suspension and ensure adequate nutrient delivery. In contrast, Hoxton Farms has developed innovative bioreactors designed for a modular and cost-efficient scaling process, which Jamilly describes as “ultra scale-out” (USO) bioreactors.
“These bioreactors are specifically engineered to tackle the unique challenges of cost-effective stem cell culture at massive scale,” he explained. “Unlike traditional STRs, which require scaling up by increasing vessel size, our approach scales out by automating many small, low-cost, modular reactors in parallel, similar to an AI data center’s server management.”
The Advantages of Cultivated Fat
While the economics of cultivated meat pose some challenges, cultivated fat presents a more favorable scenario due to its quicker growth rates compared to muscle tissue. Jamilly classifies cultivated fat as a “high-impact, low-inclusion rate” ingredient, making it a valuable component in various products.
Currently, production is taking place at Hoxton’s pilot site in London. As the firm expands its global partnerships, the startup is actively seeking to establish manufacturing collaborations with its customers. “We are very well placed to scale and come to market in partnership with our B2B clients,” Jamilly added.
Regulatory Developments
Hoxton Farms is on track to submit applications to UK regulators soon, with expectations to follow suit in the United States and Singapore by the end of the year. The company is also collaborating closely with the Japan Association for Cellular Agriculture (JACA) to navigate the complex regulatory landscape in Japan.
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