Eat Just, a food technology company with a mission to build a healthier, safer and more sustainable food system, has announced that it has partnered with Doha Venture Capital (DVC) and Qatar Free Zones Authority (QFZA), to build the first-ever cultivated meat facility in the Middle East and Northern Africa (Mena) region.
The regional hub will be located in the Umm Alhoul Free Zone, one of two free zones overseen and regulated by QFZA, with direct access to Hamad Port, said a statement from the company.
The hub will comprise a large-scale facility for Eat Just’s Good Meat division, which created the world’s first-to-market meat made from animal cells instead of slaughtered livestock.
Eat Just co-founder and CEO Josh Tetrick said: “Our team is grateful to take the next step in our global expansion in the Qatar Free Zones. Their commitment to accelerating our work in building a more sustainable food system was apparent from day one of our dialogue."
The announcement follows Eat Just’s commercialisation of Good Meat in Singapore as well as its commitment to build a large-scale protein facility in Singapore.
DVC CEO Mohammed Al Abdulla said: “Eat Just is a highly innovative company with a bright future, and we’re pleased to be one of the investors in the company. This partnership is a prime example of our commitment to supporting high-growth disruptors as they develop innovative technologies.”
There are plans to add a protein processing facility for Just Egg, the company’s plant-based egg division. The hub will be staffed with research and development, engineering and business development professionals.
QFZA CEO Lim Meng Hui said: “At QFZA, we’re focused on companies shaping the future of their industries, and Eat Just’s team is doing just that. Our free zones are characterized by innovation, technology, accelerated growth and environmental awareness, and Eat Just is a natural partner across all four of these areas.”
The QFZA and the Ministry of Public Health have indicated their intention to grant regulatory approval for Good Meat cultivated chicken very soon and have formally granted an export licence for the product.-TradeArabia News Service
Copyright 2021 Al Hilal Publishing and Marketing Group Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).
Disclaimer: The content of this article is syndicated or provided to this website from an external third party provider. We are not responsible for, and do not control, such external websites, entities, applications or media publishers. The body of the text is provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis and has not been edited in any way. Neither we nor our affiliates guarantee the accuracy of or endorse the views or opinions expressed in this article. Read our full disclaimer policy here.
