Hoxton Farms and Sumitomo Forge Strategic Partnership to Bring Cultivated Fat to Japan and APAC

By Agroempresario.com 

In a groundbreaking move for the cultivated food sector, UK-based startup Hoxton Farms has announced a strategic partnership with Japanese trading giant Sumitomo Corporation. This collaboration will focus on introducing cultivated pork fat to Japan and other Asia-Pacific markets, with the aim of revolutionizing food products ranging from soups and sauces to savory pastries and processed meats.

As part of the deal, Hoxton Farms and Sumitomo Corporation will work together to secure food safety approvals from Japanese regulators, aided by the Japan Association for Cellular Agriculture (JACA). JACA is a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing the responsible adoption of cellular agriculture in Japan, and it will play a key role in ensuring that cultivated fat meets safety standards for consumer consumption.

Takeo Kojima, head of Sumitomo Corporation’s agri-innovation unit, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, emphasizing the importance of cellular-based foods for future food security. "Cell-based foods are an innovative source of protein that can help address future food security challenges without the need for animal sacrifice and with a lower environmental impact. We see Hoxton Farms’ cultured fat as a groundbreaking ingredient that contributes not only to better taste but also to sustainability," Kojima said.

Market Drivers for Cultivated Fat in Asia

The demand for cultivated fat in Asia is driven by several factors, including rising incomes, urbanization, and a growing population. However, the region’s meat industry is facing significant challenges, including disease outbreaks, climate change, and trade issues. The outbreak of African swine fever in 2018 disrupted the global pork market, exacerbating concerns about the stability of pork supply chains.

Max Jamilly, co-founder and CEO of Hoxton Farms, sees the partnership with Sumitomo as a perfect fit for addressing these challenges. "Asia is a pork market, but a very broken one, so we think Hoxton Fat is a really great fit for this market," Jamilly told AgFunderNews. He explained that Sumitomo Corporation’s extensive experience with pork, both in terms of meat and fat used in processed foods, made them an ideal partner for Hoxton Farms.

One of the key benefits of cultivated fat is its ability to offer healthier alternatives to traditional animal fats. Jamilly noted that Hoxton Farms can customize the fatty acid profile, saturated fat content, and flavor of its fats, making them suitable for a wide range of food applications. By optimizing the cell culture media and the cells themselves, the company can produce fat with a more sustainable and healthier profile than conventional animal fat.

Manufacturing and Scaleup Potential

Founded in 2020 by Jamilly, a synthetic biologist, and Ed Steele, a mathematician and computer scientist, Hoxton Farms is focused on optimizing its production process. The company has developed proprietary bioreactors that allow it to scale up production efficiently and with lower capital expenditure and operational costs.

Jamilly highlighted the advantage of cultivating fat over muscle, stating that cultivated fat grows faster and is a "high-impact, low-inclusion rate" ingredient. This means that while the unit economics of cultivated meat can be challenging, cultivated fat presents an opportunity for quicker market entry and scalability.

Currently, Hoxton Farms is producing cultivated fat from its pilot site in London, but the company is actively building partnerships worldwide. "We are very well placed to scale and come to market in partnership with our B2B customers who are well-established food brands," Jamilly said.

The company is also preparing to submit applications for regulatory approval in the UK, with plans to extend this process to the US and Singapore by the end of the year. Additionally, Hoxton Farms is working closely with JACA to navigate the regulatory process in Japan, ensuring a smooth entry into the Asian market.

Addressing Future Food Security in Asia

The demand for meat in Asia is projected to rise by 78% by 2050, driven by economic growth and demographic changes. This growth has already led to soaring food prices and concerns over the stability of supply chains due to climate change and disease outbreaks. The African swine fever crisis in China, which led to the culling of 25% of the global pig population in 2018, highlighted the vulnerabilities in the pork supply chain.

As a result, consumers and food brands alike are seeking healthier, more resilient, and sustainable alternatives to traditional meat. Hoxton Farms' cultivated fat offers a solution that maintains the taste and culinary traditions of conventional meat while providing a more sustainable and scalable option for the future.

This partnership with Sumitomo Corporation marks a significant step forward in the global adoption of cultivated fats, and it could help reshape the future of food production in the Asia-Pacific region. By combining cutting-edge biotechnologies with established industry expertise, Hoxton Farms and Sumitomo Corporation are positioning themselves at the forefront of a new era in sustainable food innovation.