ISRAEL – Aleph Farms, an Israel-based company specializing in lab-grown meat, has announced significant layoffs, reducing its workforce by about 30%.
Approximately 30 employees out of a total of 100 have been made redundant.
Reports of the layoffs were initially made by Israel’s technology news outlet Ctech, which attributed the job cuts to the ongoing challenges cell-based meat companies face in securing substantial investments.
The company released a statement highlighting its strategic shift towards larger-scale production and commercialization.
“As we transition towards larger-scale production and commercialization, we are maintaining R&D and production in Israel while expanding globally through co-manufacturers, in line with our capital-efficient and asset-light approach,” the statement read.
The company acknowledged the need to let go of approximately 30% of its local workforce, emphasizing support for the affected employees during their job search.
This development comes just four months after Aleph Farms disclosed a partnership with two companies to establish a production facility in Thailand for its cell-cultivated meat.
In February, Aleph Farms announced its new facility in Thailand, aiming to produce nearly 1,000 tons of cultivated beef in the first year.
Earlier, in January, the company received regulatory approval in Israel to sell lab-grown steak and planned to introduce its Petit Steak, a hybrid of cultured meat and plant-based ingredients, in select restaurants.
The company has garnered approximately US$140M in investments from notable backers, including Brazilian meat giant BRF, seafood major Thai Union Group, and Hollywood actor Leonardo DiCaprio.
Founded in 2017 by Didier Toubia, Dr. Neta Lavon, Professor Shulamit Levenberg, and the Kitchen FoodTech Hub, Aleph Farm continues to innovate in the cultivated meat sector.
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