Hollywood actor and environmentalist, Leonardo DiCaprio has invested in two cultured meat startups – Israel-based Aleph Farms and Netherlands-based Mosa Meat.
The Academy Award winning actor, known for his environment protection initiatives, is now investing in, and advising startups in the sustainable food space. In April this year, he joined animal-free dairy protein company Perfect Day as an advisor. Now this investment in cultured meat companies signals his keen interest in this emerging field.
Aleph Farms and Mosa Meat have demonstrated the ability to grow beef directly from animal cells, with the unveiling of the first cultivated hamburger by Mosa Meat in 2013 and the first cultivated ribeye steak by Aleph Farms in 2018 and 2021, respectively.
“One of the most impactful ways to combat the climate crisis is to transform our food system. Mosa Meat and Aleph Farms offer new ways to satisfy the world’s demand for beef, while solving some of the most pressing issues of current industrial beef production. I’m very pleased to join them as an advisor and investor, as they prepare to introduce cultivated beef to consumers,” said Leonardo DiCaprio.
ALSO READ: Leonardo DiCaprio Urges 37.5 Mn Followers to Reduce Meat Intake to Curb Climate Change
With global meat consumption projected to grow 40-70% by 2050, cultivated meat offers a solution to greatly reduce the current negative impacts of industrial beef production. Additionally, cultivated meat will enable diners to enjoy the qualities of the meat they love, eliminating the need for any major behavioral change. Analysts have projected the cultivated meat market could reach $25 billion by 2030, as part of the broader protein transformation.
Maarten Bosch, CEO of Mosa Meat said: “Leonardo DiCaprio’s work to bring about positive change is closely aligned with our mission at Mosa Meat. We are thrilled to bring him on board as advisor and investor and work together to feed current and future generations sustainably.”
Didier Toubia, Co-Founder and CEO of Aleph Farms said: “As a committed environmentalist, we welcome Leonardo DiCaprio to our advisory board and family of top tier investors. Our team is committed to improving the sustainability of our global food systems and we’re thrilled to have Leo share in our vision.”
ALSO READ: ‘World’s First’ Sustainable, Cell-Based Crab Meat is Here!
According to an independent Life Cycle Analysis study, cultivated beef production is projected to reduce climate impact by 92%, air pollution by 93%, use 95% less land and 78% less water when compared to industrial beef production.
Cultivated beef production offers the opportunity to use the spare land for re-wilding habitats, which would naturally reduce emissions or for producing more food for people. Moreover, the automated process through which cultivated meat is produced, and the sterile environment of its manufacturing, will eliminate the use of antibiotics and greatly reduce the risk for pathogens, contaminants, and foodborne illnesses associated with concentrated and intensive animal farming.
