Letter CONTENTS MAY 2025 4 8 M heroes Not all y daughter is ob-sessed with su-perheroes: Spider-Gwen, Wonder Woman, Elastigirl… you name her, we probably have a costume in the appropriate size. I even get in on the action sometimes (that’s Ms. Marvel, to you). But not all superheroes wear a mask and cape; many look like the legacy meat brands leading the plant-based transition in Germany (page 4), the tireless scien-tists working to make sure cultivated meat is safe (page 29) or the alt-meat compa-nies taking on the global food system with a wink and a smile (page 6). I think we can all agree that astronauts — whether they’re preparing to explore the galaxy or the interna-tional space station — are heroes. Feeding them in the void of space is no easy or small feat, and alt-proteins have a not-insignificant role to play in that story as well (page 22). For some alt-meat companies, a co-packer who expertly and profes-sionally handles your runs or recommends time-and money-saving measures (page 16) can look an awful lot like a hero. In this issue, we also have stories about some unconventional heroes in the alt-protein arena, including investors who go beyond fast cash to help startups grow into mature companies (page 10) and a behavioral scientist who’s devoted his scholarship to understanding what factors play into consumer protein choices (page 30). As the saying goes, “he-roes are made by the path they choose, not their pow-ers.” I hope you’ll find some guidance in these pages that eases your path and makes it more profitable. TRENDING Germany legacy brands driving plant-based meat. THE ALT-MEAT OF THE MATTER The fate of meat analogues amid roiling geopolitics. CEOs, CFOs and investors talk about what makes a good alt-protein investor-partner. Finding a co-man that’s juuuuuuust right. How to inject rocket fuel into alt-protein R&D. Contamination during cultivated meat production. The biases and beliefs behind our protein choices. Testers were split on the meat alternative. 10 MEETING YOUR MATCH 16 THE GOLDILOCKS PARADIGM 22 WRITTEN IN THE STARS 29 SAFETY DANCE 30 COLLECTIVE MEAT CONSCIOUS 37 TASTE TEST: ABBOT’S PLANT-RICH GROUND “BEEF” Melissa Sue Sorrells, managing editor 40 THE FUTURE IS NOW Fermented proteins are poised to take the market. COVER PHOTO: Grilled Chunk Steak served with roasted onions and burnt vegetable sauce, part of the menu served at the Phase 3 Deep Space Food Challenge Symposium. OSU/CFAES/Kenneth Chamberlain Awarded three Jesse H. Neal National Business Journalism Awards for Best Scientific Content and Best Podcast by the Software & Information Industry Assn. EDITOR IN CHIEF: Lisa M. Keefe lkeefe@alt-meat.net 312/274-2212 VICE PRESIDENT, GROUP PUBLISHER: Bill Kinross bkinross@alt-meat.net 312/274-2214 MANAGING EDITOR: Melissa Sue Sorrells msorrells@alt-meat.net 312/266-1950 SALES: Jeff Sutley, sr. account exec jsutley@alt-meat.net 312/274-2210 John McMillan, sr. account exec jmcmillan@alt-meat.net 308/272-1288 Karen Moriarty, sr. account exec kmoriarty@alt-meat.net 630/579-9850 ART DIRECTORS: Steve Vanden Heuvel svandenheuvel@mtgmediagroup.com 312/274-2218 Bert Ganzon bganzon@mtgmediagroup.com 312/274-2227 VICE PRESIDENT, MARKETING: Laurie Hachmeister lhachmeister@mtgmediagroup.com 312/274-2203 PRODUCTION: Karen Ruesch kruesch@mtgmediagroup.com 312/274-2204 2 Alt-Meat May 2025 Copyright © 2024 by Marketing & Technology Group Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited For further information go to www.alt-meat.net
Alt-Meat May 2025: Page 2
