PRAGUE — Czech biotechnology startup Bene Meat Technologies recently won a Česká hlava award for its cultivated meat research and technology. According to Bene Meat Technologies, the award recognizes its significant advancement in providing high-quality, ethical and sustainable nutrition for both human and pet consumption. 

Established in 2002, the Česká hlava award recognizes outstanding achievements in Czech innovation, science and technology. An expert panel consisting of renowned figures in academia and industry evaluates projects that have the potential to create major innovations.

Bene Meat Technologies received the award for its pioneering research in cultivated meat technologies. Through its cultured meat, the company aims to help pet food manufacturers with their sustainability goals while also offering an affordable price. Currently the cultured meat is registered with the European Feed Materials Register, allowing Bene Meat Technologies to produce and sell the products in the European pet food industry. 

“This award is not only a great success for us, but also a motivation for further work,” said Tomáš Kubeš, head of strategic projects at Bene Meat Technologies. “Our goal is to contribute to quality and ethical eating, as well as reducing the environmental impact associated with traditional methods of meat production. We thank the organizers of this competition, Czech Television, and especially everyone who has been involved in our journey.”

To create this cultivated meat, Bene Meat Technologies grows animal cells in a cultivator with a nutrient-rich medium that contains no other animal-derived ingredients. This process allows cells to grow in controlled conditions, minimizing risk of contamination from pathogens and parasites and making it free from hormones and antibiotics, according to the company. 

Additionally, through this process, the company’s cultivated meat uses less land, eliminates soil and waste contamination, and reduces greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions compared to traditional meat production, according to a recent life cycle analysis.

“Cultivated meat provides the opportunity to obtain real animal protein without the need to kill animals, and with a lower environmental impact than most traditional animal farming methods,” said Roman Kříž, chief executive officer of Bene Meat Technologies.

Bene Meat Technologies is currently working on ramping up its production and is collaborating with leading pet food manufacturers to develop finished pet nutrition products using cultured meat. 

“In 2025, we plan to increase the production of cultivated meat to up to 500 kgs (1,102 lbs) per day, making our company the largest producer of this raw material in the world,” Kříž said.

Read more about the latest advancements in cultivated meat in pet nutrition.