WACKER is launching its bioengineered growth factor “Recombinant bovine FGF-basic Food,” or FGF-2 Food.
It has been specially developed for use in the production of cultivated meat.
The first batches are already available, with deliveries starting in the fourth quarter of 2025.
“FGF-2 is an essential growth factor for cell cultivation in the production of cultivated meat."
"With our biotechnological solution, we offer a reliable and scalable alternative to existing products, making an important contribution to establishing sustainable protein sources,” says Mathias Wiedemann, Head of Biosolutions, WACKER’s life sciences division.
FGF-2 Food is a highly purified growth factor that is produced microbially (based on fermentation), free from animal-derived components.
It has been developed specifically for food applications and meets the GFSI’s strict quality standards.
In cell culture, FGF-2 Food plays a central role by promoting cell proliferation, particularly of muscle and connective tissue cells, while preventing premature differentiation.
This enables the use of cell culture media without commonly used animal-derived components such as foetal calf serum, making this growth factor indispensable for cultivated meat production.
Cultivated meat represents a sustainable, animal-friendly and resource-efficient alternative to conventional meat production.
The market is growing rapidly; more than 170 companies worldwide are working on solutions in this area.
FGF-2 Food is a key protein for reducing costs and scaling this technology.
Ingredients for cell culture media were previously only available in pharmaceutical quality and in small quantities — WACKER is the first manufacturer capable of supplying commercially viable quantities in food-grade quality.
Cultivated meat is already approved in the USA, Singapore and the UK.
Approval processes are underway in Europe and Asia, including those initiated by Aleph Farms, a company WACKER has partnered with since 2021 to enhance production processes and supply chain solutions for the market.
The rollout of WACKER’s FGF-2 will initially focus on the US market, with Asia and Europe to follow next year.