South African start-up Mzansi Meat Co. joins the cultivated meat race with its biotechnology solution
South African-based cultivated meat start-up, Mzansi Meat Co. has announced the closing of its oversubscribed pre-seed funding round. As one of the few cultivated meat start-ups coming out of Africa, the start-up is working with investors including Sustainable Food Ventures and Glass Wall Syndicate to expand its cellular agricultural solution.
Based in Cape Town, Mzansi Meat Co. uses biotechnology to harvest tiny tissue cells removed from donor animals through harm-free methods and place them in nutrient-rich transport mediums. From here, the cells are grown in a culture medium and once enough have been created, they are placed on an edible structure. After additional spices and flavours have been added, the result is cultivated meat ready to be eaten.
On the company website, Mzansi claims to set itself apart from the current meat industry due to its harm-free philosophy and engineering innovation.
The start-up reinforced its message on its LinkedIn page, saying: “We strongly believe that cellular agriculture will have a large part to play in the future of food. The development of this technology is especially important on the African continent, which currently faces challenges with food insecurity.
“The recent increase in venture capital in Africa shows that there is a strong belief in the potential for progress on the continent.”
Mzansi Meat Co. thanked supporters including BioCiTi, Stocks & Strauss, Cape Innovation and Technology Initiative’s Entreprise Development Division, Orange Light Ventures and Prithi Ventures, along with other individual business angels.
