Respect Farms Leads World’s First Cultivated Meat Farm Project
- Maddison Chaffin
- Sep 17
- 2 min read
The international consortium CRAFT, comprised of Respect Farms, Wageningen University & Research, Mosa Meat, Aleph Farms, Multus, Kipster, and Royal Kuijpers, has initiated the design and construction of what is described as the world’s first cultivated meat farm project in the Netherlands. The project is co-funded by EIT Food, with an initial €2 million (approximately US$2.35 million) of a total €4 million (approximately US$4.69 million) grant already awarded to support the launch.
The Main Goal of the Cultivated Meat Farm Project
One of the project’s core aims is to make cultivated meat production sustainable and regionally embedded. “It is important for food innovations to stay as close as possible to primary food production, making use of local resources and waste streams,” says René Wijffels of Wageningen University.
The consortium reports that this production method may reduce water consumption by 78%, land usage by 95%, and societal costs by 56%. The goal is that cultivated meat would not replace traditional farming entirely, but instead integrate with it to build resilience and autonomy in local food systems.
“It is important for food innovations to stay as close as possible to primary food production, making use of local resources and waste streams,” says René Wijffels of Wageningen University.
What Partners Bring to the Table
Each partner contributes their own expertise to the project. Respect Farms leads farm implementation. Wageningen University & Research provides scientific research. Mosa Meat and Aleph Farms contribute to product development and regulatory expertise. Multus develops scalable, resource-efficient cell culture media. Kipster offers experience in sustainable agriculture, and Royal Kuijpers is responsible for facility design. Collectively, these organizations seek to integrate established agricultural practices with emerging technologies to develop viable farm-based models for cultivated meat.
“We are excited to bring farmers' food collaboratively to the market”, says Florentine Zieglowski, Co-founder of Respect Farms. "This underscores the consortium’s commitment to not only advancing technology but also preserving the central role of farming in food production."
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