Checklist for Starting Open-Source Cultivated Meat Projects

Want to make an impact in cultivated meat? Here's how to start an open-source project that matters.

The cultivated meat industry has grown to over 175 companies with £2.5 billion in investments (as of 2024). But challenges like high costs (£320 per litre for growth medium) and technical bottlenecks remain. Open-source collaboration offers a way forward by sharing resources, reducing redundancies, and driving industry progress.

Key Steps to Get Started:

Define Goals: Focus on areas like cell culture media, cell line development, bioprocess design, or scaffolding. Set measurable targets (e.g., reducing media costs to £0.25/litre).
Use Open-Source Licences: Choose permissive licences (e.g., MIT, Apache) for flexibility or copyleft licences (e.g., GPL) to ensure accessibility.
Leverage Resources: Use tools like the Good Food Institute's research directory or AI4CM Hub for data and protocols.
Build Partnerships: Collaborate with universities, pilot-scale facilities, or industry leaders like SuperMeat.
Secure Funding: Explore government grants (e.g., Horizon Europe, UKRI) and shared equipment access.
Stay Compliant: Understand regulatory requirements (e.g., FSA in the UK) and implement Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).
Document Everything: Share detailed protocols and data to encourage collaboration and transparency.

This checklist is your guide to tackling the industry's hurdles while contributing to a more efficient and accessible cultivated meat future.

Setting Your Project Scope and Goals

Before jumping into the technical details of your open-source cultivated meat project, it’s crucial to set a clear direction. Start by defining your focus area, outlining the open-source principles you’ll follow, and establishing measurable goals. These steps will help tackle the industry’s challenges and lay the groundwork for impactful solutions.

Choose Your Technology Focus Area

The cultivated meat industry covers a range of technical fields, each with its own challenges and potential for open-source contributions. The first step is to decide where your efforts could make the biggest difference.

Cell culture media: This is a key area for cutting costs. Current technologies suggest prices could fall below £0.19 per litre, making it a vital focus for reducing production expenses ^[1].
Cell line development: This area is critical for both terrestrial and aquatic species. Research shows embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells need the most attention for land animals, while myoblasts are a priority for aquatic species. Nearly half of cultivated meat companies are using genetic engineering in their work, opening the door for open-source breakthroughs ^[1].
Bioprocess design: As the industry scales up, designing efficient processes becomes increasingly important. Pilot-scale facilities are already making strides, and your project could contribute by creating open techno-economic models or facility blueprints to identify and solve bottlenecks ^[1].
Scaffolding technology: This remains a significant hurdle, requiring expertise in both cell biology and materials science. Developing affordable, food-safe scaffolds is essential for producing structured meat products ^[1].

Select Open-Source Principles

Once you’ve chosen your technical focus, decide how open-source principles will shape your project’s framework. The type of licence you select will influence how others can use, adapt, and share your work.

Permissive licences (e.g., MIT, Apache): These allow broad use with attribution, making them ideal for software tools like bioprocess modelling or data analysis. They encourage widespread collaboration and innovation.
Creative Commons licences: Perfect for sharing research data, protocols, and educational resources. For example, a CC BY licence allows free use with proper credit, while CC BY-SA ensures any adaptations remain open to the community.
Copyleft licences (e.g., GPL): These require that any derivative works stay open-source, ensuring your innovations remain accessible. However, they might deter companies with stricter intellectual property policies.

To build a thriving community around your project, document your contribution guidelines, code review processes, and decision-making structures clearly. This will help attract contributors and maintain a productive collaboration.

Define Clear Project Goals

Your goals should align your technical ambitions with the broader push for open innovation in the cultivated meat industry. Clear, measurable objectives will not only guide your work but also make it easier for potential collaborators to see your vision.

Research goals: These might include developing serum-free media formulations at a cost target (e.g., under £0.25 per litre) or creating cell lines with improved growth rates.
Educational milestones: Consider creating detailed protocols, training materials, or certification programmes to spread knowledge across the industry.
Prototypes: Focus on tangible outcomes like designing functional bioreactor systems, developing scaffold platforms, or producing proof-of-concept cultivated meat samples. Setting clear specifications for prototypes will keep your efforts on track.
Community growth: Aim to attract a specific number of active contributors, establish partnerships with research institutions, or achieve engagement goals on collaborative platforms.

When planning your timeline, factor in the regulatory environment and broader industry trends. For instance, the rise of AI in process development and advancements in cultivated seafood and exotic meats could offer additional opportunities for collaboration and funding ^[3]^[4].

Finding Resources and Partners

Creating a successful open-source cultivated meat project requires more than just technical know-how. You'll need to make the most of existing tools, establish meaningful partnerships, and secure the funding necessary to bring your ideas to life.

Review Existing Open-Source Resources

Before diving into developing new solutions, take a look at the open-source tools and databases already available. The cultivated meat research community has built a wealth of resources that could save you significant time and effort.

The Good Food Institute (GFI) has developed a Cultivated Meat Research Tool Directory. This directory includes a wide range of resources like cell lines, reagents, datasets, genetic tools, scaffolds, and protocols. It even tracks user-submitted warnings about products or methods that may not work as expected based on personal experience ^[6].

"With our new Cultivated Meat Research Tool Directory, GFI hopes to crowdsource and compile existing species-specific resources to save researchers time in finding the tools they need and point to service providers that can develop new tools or carry out specialised work for those who don't have the equipment or expertise to perform these tasks in-house." - The Good Food Institute ^[6]

For researchers focused on cell lines, GFI APAC is working to improve access and fund the development of new lines ^[7]. Additionally, GFI and Kerafast are collaborating to create a repository of cell lines specifically for cultivated meat ^[6]. If your focus is on seafood alternatives, check out the PISCES and ATLAS databases, which provide open-access information on conventional seafood characteristics and impacts ^[7].

A new initiative, the AI4CM Hub, is set to launch through New Harvest with support from the Bezos Earth Fund. This hub will bring together datasets, benchmarks, and AI tools to optimise media and processes for cultivated meat ^[5].

"An open-source AI hub is uniting data and tools to fast-track breakthroughs in cultured meat innovation." - Bezos Earth Fund ^[5]

If you create your own protocols, consider sharing them on platforms like www.protocols.io or STAR Protocols to contribute to the open-source community ^[6].

Once you're familiar with these resources, it’s time to focus on building strategic partnerships.

Find Collaborative Partners

Collaborating with universities, research institutions, and industry leaders can significantly boost your project's impact. Partnerships can accelerate innovation and help drive progress across the cultivated meat industry.

One standout example is SuperMeat, which partnered with Thermo Fisher Scientific to develop the world's largest open high-throughput system. Their findings are made available for others to use, embodying the open-source spirit ^[2].

Several research consortiums are also actively seeking collaborators. For instance, the Cultivated Meat Modeling Consortium uses computational modelling to tackle challenges in bioprocess design. If your work involves computational tools or process optimisation, this could be a great fit ^[1].

For scaling up production, partnerships with pilot-scale infrastructure facilities can be invaluable. In Switzerland, The Cultured Hub offers scale-up services through a collaboration between Givaudan, Bühler, and Migros ^[1]. Similarly, Cultivate at Scale in The Netherlands benefits from support by the Dutch National Growth Fund ^[1].

Universities are another excellent source of collaboration. The University of Bath’s £12 million cellular agriculture manufacturing research hub is a prime example of academic investment in this field ^[12]. In the United States, the Bezos Centers for Sustainable Protein and a Massachusetts state grant to Tufts University are funding pilot-scale infrastructure for cellular agriculture research ^[1].

Get Funding and Equipment Access

While partnerships are crucial, securing funding and equipment is just as important. The UK alternative proteins sector, for example, could grow to £6.8 billion annually and create 25,000 jobs by 2035, making it a promising area for investment ^[10].

Government funding is often the most accessible starting point. The Good Food Institute maintains a research funding database with grant opportunities tailored to alternative protein innovation ^[8]. Horizon Europe also offers funding options for researchers in this space ^[8]. In the UK, the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF) 2025 provides grants for purchasing productivity-enhancing equipment ^[11].

The National Alternative Protein Innovation Centre (NAPIC), supported by a £15 million UKRI investment in 2024, is another key funding and collaboration opportunity ^[10].

"This landmark investment is a strong indication that the UK government recognises the importance of cellular agriculture and the need to invest in the R&D necessary to help British companies scale production, bringing down costs and making this food available to everyone." - Linus Pardoe, UK Policy Manager at the Good Food Institute Europe ^[9]

Across Europe, government funding for alternative proteins is growing. Denmark allocated nearly 675 million kroner (€91 million) in 2021 to plant-based sectors, while France committed €55 million in 2022 for plant-based protein research. Germany is investing up to €18.1 million in alternative proteins through 2027, and the Netherlands launched a €60 million programme for cellular agriculture ^[12].

Access to equipment is another hurdle, especially given the high costs of growth media - up to US$400 per litre - and the large volumes required for production ^[2]. Shared facilities and partnerships can help overcome this challenge.

Instead of building proprietary systems, consider leveraging shared resources. Many universities and research institutions offer access to bioreactors, cell culture facilities, and analytical tools through collaborative agreements. Demonstrating how your open-source approach will benefit the wider research community can make these partnerships more accessible.

Meeting Regulatory and Safety Requirements

Getting a handle on regulatory requirements early can save a lot of hassle down the line. Both the UK and EU classify cultivated meat as a novel food, meaning it needs pre-market authorisation after undergoing a thorough food safety risk assessment.

Navigating Regulatory Requirements

In the UK, cultivated meat falls under the Novel Food Regulations, requiring approval from the Food Standards Agency (FSA). The FSA examines your production processes, identifies potential hazards, and ensures compliance with food safety standards. Similarly, in the EU, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) handles risk assessments on behalf of the European Commission.

The approval process can be lengthy. On average, FSA approvals take about 2.5 years, which is longer than their 17-month target. EU approvals, on the other hand, typically require at least 18 months to complete ^[13]^[14].

For UK projects, the FSA offers a regulatory sandbox to simplify and accelerate the approval process. Professor Robin May, the FSA’s Chief Scientific Advisor, highlighted the importance of this initiative:

"Ensuring consumers can trust the safety of new foods is one of our most crucial responsibilities. The CCP sandbox programme will enable safe innovation and allow us to keep pace with new technologies being used by the food industry to ultimately provide consumers with a wider choice of safe foods." ^[13]

Labelling is another key aspect of compliance. Labels for cultivated meat must clearly list ingredients and durability information to protect consumers. If your process involves genetic modification, additional compliance with GMO regulations is required.

Implementing Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)

Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) are a cornerstone of safety for cultivated meat. Once you’ve identified the regulatory requirements, it’s essential to establish rigorous manufacturing protocols. These practices should ensure safety at every stage of production, blending traditional food safety measures with the unique demands of cell cultivation. Key steps include:

Strictly inspecting source animals and biopsies to prevent contamination or infections.
Regularly testing for veterinary drug residues while optimising nutrient levels for cell growth without inflating costs.
Monitoring cellular health, such as viability and morphology, to catch early signs of damage.
Conducting chemical analyses of the final product to confirm its nutrient content.

These steps ensure your GMP protocols meet the dual demands of biotechnology and food safety.

Preparing for Regulatory Reviews

When it’s time for regulatory reviews, preparation is everything. You’ll need a detailed dossier outlining your product’s manufacturing process, composition, and intended use. This should include robust scientific data on toxicology, nutritional value, and potential allergens to prove the product is safe.

Engaging with regulators early can make the approval process smoother. For example, the FSA’s cell-cultivated products Business Support Service offers valuable guidance before and after submission. A recent success story is Meatly, a UK-based company producing cultivated pet food. In August 2024, it became the first to secure approval in Europe for its chicken cell-based product, setting a new benchmark for the industry ^[14].

Keep meticulous records of your processes, test results, and safety protocols. These records not only support regulatory reviews but also help build trust with the wider community and ensure long-term compliance.

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Creating Documentation and Building Community

Once you've laid the groundwork with thorough project planning and ensured compliance with regulations, the next step is to focus on clear documentation and fostering community engagement. Open science thrives on transparency and collaboration, and both are essential for advancing research while maintaining ethical standards ^[15].

Create Clear and Detailed Documentation

Documentation is the backbone of any open-source project. It ensures that your work is not only replicable but also open to improvement by others. To achieve this, your documentation should include:

Experimental procedures: Outline every step clearly so others can follow or adapt your methods.
Data management plans: Explain how data is stored, organised, and documented.
Reasoning behind decisions: Provide context for key choices made during your research ^[15].

Take the Shojin Meat Project as an example. Their comprehensive DIY protocols explain not just the "how" but also the "why" behind each step, making it easier for others to replicate or adapt their work with different tools ^[17].

Pre-registering studies is another way to enhance research integrity. By publicly documenting your research plans, hypotheses, and methodologies before collecting data, you build trust and transparency. This approach allows others to understand your process from the outset and reinforces accountability ^[15].

Good documentation also ensures that your experimental records are detailed enough for another researcher to replicate your work without needing to reach out for clarification. This not only aids reproducibility but also strengthens adherence to safety and regulatory protocols.

Sharing your protocols and data on accessible platforms is a key step in fostering collaboration and innovation. Openly sharing methodologies and findings is a cornerstone of research integrity in the open science community ^[15].

For instance, several organisations provide open resources on cultivated meat production, enabling researchers to build on existing knowledge ^[17]. Open peer review further enhances accountability, offering a platform for constructive feedback from a wider audience ^[15].

You could also consider creating community-operated spaces or makerspaces. These spaces provide access to equipment and expert guidance, encouraging hands-on learning and experimentation. Such initiatives help strengthen the cellular agriculture community by nurturing curiosity and collaboration ^[16].

Active participation is what drives progress. As Jeff Osier-Mixon from Intel aptly puts it:

"It is as simple as noticing that something needs to be done, and doing it – filing a bug, answering a question, offering to sit in the booth at a conference." ^[18]

Collaborate with Educational Platforms

To further bridge the gap between research and public understanding, partnerships with educational platforms can be incredibly effective. These collaborations can help translate complex science into accessible information, building awareness and trust among the public ^[17].

Well-documented protocols play a vital role here. Platforms like Cultivated Meat Shop rely on clear, transparent documentation to explain the science behind cultivated meat effectively. By working with such platforms, you can educate consumers and build a community of informed supporters.

Educational collaborations also help address critical public concerns around food safety, nutrition, and ethics - topics that are essential for fostering trust. RESPECTfarms in the Netherlands is a great example. They connect cultivated meat scientists with farmers, helping them explore how they might contribute to this emerging field ^[17]. This kind of outreach not only informs but also opens doors for unexpected partnerships.

When engaging with educational platforms, focus on clear communication to address public concerns and build understanding. As Gil Yehuda from Oath (Yahoo + AOL) advises:

"The one thing a person can do to develop influence is listen, understand, really try to read a situation before jumping in. If you can develop that habit over time then I think people will respect your contributions and find you to be more influential." ^[18]

Whether you're working with technical collaborators or educational partners, the key is to listen and understand first. Influence and trust are built on a foundation of genuine engagement and thoughtful contributions.

Handling Intellectual Property and Licensing

Effectively managing intellectual property (IP) while staying true to open-source values is crucial, especially in an industry that now includes over 175 companies backed by more than £2.5 billion in investments ^[1]. With such rapid growth, getting your IP strategy right from the outset can make or break your project. A key starting point is selecting a licence that aligns with your open-source principles.

Choosing Open-Source Licences

The type of licence you choose should reflect your goals. Permissive licences, such as MIT, Apache 2.0, and BSD, are designed to encourage widespread adoption. On the other hand, copyleft licences like GNU GPL and LGPL ensure that derivative works remain open, fostering community access while imposing stricter conditions.

Permissive licences prioritise flexibility. For example:
- The MIT licence allows almost unlimited use, provided the original licence text is included.
- Apache 2.0 is favoured for corporate collaborations due to its explicit patent protections ^[19].
Copyleft licences aim to keep derivatives open:
- The GNU GPL mandates that any modifications or derivative works also remain open source, though this can limit commercial use.
- The LGPL provides a balance, allowing proprietary linking while ensuring that LGPL-licensed components stay modifiable ^[19].

Here’s a quick comparison of popular open-source licences:

Licence Type	Ideal For	Key Features
MIT	Broad adoption and simplicity	Minimal restrictions, requires attribution
Apache 2.0	Corporate collaboration	Patent protection, contributor agreements
GNU GPL	Keeping derivatives open	Strong copyleft, restricts proprietary use
GNU LGPL	Library development	Allows proprietary linking, moderate copyleft
BSD	Academic and research projects	Permissive with attribution requirements

Once you’ve selected a licence, it’s time to address patents and other IP considerations to safeguard your work.

Managing Patent and IP Issues

After choosing a licence, your next step is to develop a robust patent strategy. This is especially critical in the cultivated meat industry, where companies can secure patents across various aspects of their technology, including processes, products, compositions, and equipment ^[20]. Engaging legal experts early is essential to navigate these complexities.

A well-thought-out patent strategy not only protects your innovations but also encourages collaboration ^[20]. Transparency plays a big role here - detailed patent descriptions help others understand and evaluate your scientific approaches.

For open-source projects, maintaining good practices is key. Conduct regular scans of your codebase and keep meticulous records of licensing decisions and contributions ^[21]. Avoid common legal pitfalls, such as copying open-source code into proprietary projects without proper approval or mixing code under conflicting licences. Always honour existing copyrights, attributions, and licence terms for any open-source components you use ^[21].

With your IP strategy in place, you can focus on fostering a collaborative development environment.

Supporting Open Development

Balancing openness with compliance is vital for encouraging community contributions while supporting derivative work. In the cultivated meat sector, collaboration thrives when companies share detailed protocols and formulations, enabling better selection, sourcing, and production of raw materials. These considerations often include cost, food safety, regulatory compliance, environmental impact, and social sustainability ^[1].

Dual licensing is one approach to strike a balance between commercial and open-source interests. This model allows you to offer your software under both an open-source licence and a commercial one ^[22]. Additionally, nearly half of cultivated meat companies are exploring genetic engineering as a way to protect their core innovations while still sharing foundational tools ^[1].

To make collaboration smoother, establish clear contribution guidelines to avoid disputes over IP ownership when employees or contributors work on your project ^[22]. As your project grows, regular code scans become increasingly important. These scans help identify components that lack proper compliance records and ensure all modifications are well-documented ^[21].

At Cultivated Meat Shop, we believe that transparency and clear documentation are essential for building trust among diverse stakeholders. By adhering to your chosen licensing terms and actively encouraging community contributions, you can create an environment where innovation thrives responsibly.

Conclusion: Getting Ready for Open-Source Cultivated Meat Success

Launching an open-source cultivated meat project requires careful planning, but the opportunities are immense. With over 175 companies already in the space and investments surpassing £2.5 billion ^[1], the industry is poised for significant growth. Projects that are well-prepared and strategic can tap into this momentum effectively.

At the heart of successful open-source initiatives are collaboration and transparency. By sharing detailed protocols and formulations, companies can improve the sourcing, production, and quality of raw materials across the board. This openness helps address key issues like food safety, regulatory hurdles, and environmental impact ^[1]. Aligning your research with market trends and evolving regulations will also be crucial.

The regulatory landscape is shifting rapidly, creating new opportunities. For example, in June 2023, UPSIDE Foods and GOOD Meat received inspection grants from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), enabling them to sell cultivated chicken directly to consumers in the U.S. ^[1]. These approvals signal a growing acceptance of cultivated meat, paving the way for future projects.

"The establishment of a specialist supply chain is a crucial step towards scaling-up cultured meat production and expanding the market. This will also help to meet the increasing demand for sustainable protein sources and drive forward advances in technologies, production methods and affordability." - Lorena Savani, Innovation Programme Manager, EIT Food ^[25]

Building such supply chains will be vital to meeting demand and scaling up production.

Start by conducting thorough research and networking strategically - over 70% of successful startups take this approach ^[24]. The cultivated meat industry is projected to grow at an annual rate of 15% ^[24], making it essential to review existing open-source resources to understand the current landscape and avoid duplicating efforts. Engaging with industry experts can provide valuable mentorship and insights to guide your journey.

The environmental advantages of cultivated meat offer strong motivation for open-source collaboration. Research shows that using renewable energy in its production could cut greenhouse gas emissions by up to 92% and reduce land use by up to 90% compared to traditional beef ^[1]. These numbers highlight the transformative potential of open-source contributions in this field.

However, challenges remain. For instance, an 11.2% contamination failure rate ^[23] points to ongoing technical hurdles. Sharing solutions to these problems through open-access platforms can accelerate progress for everyone involved.

Open-source projects also play a key role in fostering public trust and understanding of cultivated meat technology. By maintaining transparency and engaging actively with the community, you help build wider acceptance and support for sustainable protein solutions.

The cultivated meat industry is at a pivotal moment. With careful planning, a focus on regulatory compliance, and a commitment to collaboration, your project can make a meaningful impact. Start small with pilot projects, build a strong network of collaborators, and create detailed documentation to support others in the field. Together, these steps can help transform the way we produce and consume food.

FAQs

What are the main advantages of launching an open-source project in the cultivated meat industry?

Starting an open-source project in the cultivated meat industry comes with some clear advantages. By making research, processes, and technological advancements openly available, it encourages transparency and speeds up progress, allowing the industry to tackle challenges more effectively. Working together in this way can lead to quicker solutions and more affordable approaches, such as refining growth media or enhancing production techniques.

An open-source model also promotes a community-focused approach by connecting researchers, startups, and other key players. This shared effort addresses common hurdles, like cutting costs and improving scalability. The result? Cultivated meat could become more accessible, affordable, and practical, paving the way for sustainable and ethical protein production to thrive.

What’s the best way to choose an open-source licence for my cultivated meat project?

When deciding on the best open-source licence for your cultivated meat project, it’s essential to align it with your goals for collaboration and control. If your aim is to let others freely use, modify, and share your work with few restrictions, permissive licences like MIT or Apache are ideal. These licences prioritise flexibility and encourage creative development.

However, if you want to ensure that any modifications or derivative works also stay open-source, a copyleft licence, such as GPL, might be more suitable. This type of licence safeguards open collaboration by requiring that contributions remain accessible to all. Before settling on a licence, think about what matters most to your project - whether it’s driving innovation, allowing commercial applications, or retaining control over how your work evolves.

What are the key regulatory challenges for starting a cultivated meat project in the UK, and how can they be addressed?

Launching a cultivated meat project in the UK comes with its fair share of regulatory hurdles. The approval processes can be intricate, and the standards are constantly evolving, making it tricky for newcomers to navigate. The lack of well-defined regulatory pathways in this growing industry often leads to delays, adding another layer of complexity.

One way to tackle these challenges is by engaging with the Food Standards Agency (FSA) early in your journey. The FSA has introduced a regulatory sandbox, designed to encourage innovation and offer tailored guidance for startups venturing into this space. By participating in such initiatives, keeping an open line of communication with regulators, and aligning your product development with the latest guidelines, you can streamline your route to market approval.

It’s equally important to stay up-to-date with regulatory changes and foster trust with key stakeholders. These steps can make a significant difference in overcoming obstacles and setting your project up for success.