Migros, Givaudan, Bühler Group open biotech facility for cultivated meat, others

SWITZERLAND – Migros, Givaudan, and Bühler Group have officially launched The Cultured Hub, a state-of-the-art biotech facility designed to accelerate the production of cellular agriculture products. 

The plant, located in Kemptthal, Switzerland, will focus on developing next-generation foods, including lab-grown meat, dairy alternatives, and cell-based chocolate.

The opening marks the culmination of a partnership announced three years ago, with the three companies joining forces to create a platform for scaling up cellular agriculture. 

The Cultured Hub aims to streamline the development and commercialization of alternative proteins, providing a much-needed boost to the emerging sector.

The hub operates as a joint venture between Migros, a major Swiss retailer, Givaudan, a global leader in flavoring, and Bühler Group, a key player in food production equipment. 

Together, the companies bring extensive expertise in food manufacturing, product development, and market launch strategies.

“The Cultured Hub represents a paradigm shift in food production,” said Matthew Robin, CEO of Elsa Group, a dairy subsidiary of Migros Industries.

“Our partnership embodies the collaborative nature of the Swiss food ecosystem.”

Yannick Gächter, CEO of The Cultured Hub, emphasized the facility’s role in accelerating market entry for startups by providing access to advanced production facilities and decades of experience in food technology and commercialization.

The Cultured Hub is equipped with specialized labs for cell culture and fermentation, supporting the development of various products such as cultivated meat, dairy alternatives, fish, pet food, and even materials for cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.

Startups can utilize the facility’s resources without needing to invest heavily in expensive equipment or dilute their equity, which is particularly important in light of the challenging funding environment for alternative protein companies. 

Investment in cultivated meat startups, for example, saw a 75% decline last year, and the third quarter of this year saw just US$3 million raised in the sector.

The Cultured Hub offers a platform for scaling up from small-scale lab experiments to large-scale pilot operations, aiming to reduce time and costs for market-ready product development. 

It also serves as a hub for knowledge-sharing, supporting sustainability efforts in the food industry.

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