RESPECTfarms has a vision to be the first farm in the world to grow meat directly from animal cells. The project aims to help all farmers diversify their business models to benefit from the economic, environmental and social benefits of farmed meat.
The idea is to use the skills, networks and entrepreneurial spirit of farmers rather than replacing them. This will allow for a fair and just transition to a more sustainable food system.
We spoke to RESPECTfarms co-founder Florentine Ziglosky to learn more about this visionary project.
RESPECTfarms wants to be the world’s first cultured meat farm. What turned you to cellular agriculture?
RESPECTfarms grew out of the world’s first publicly funded farmed meat research, which began in 2002. The research was led by Willem van Ellen, father of my partner Ira van Ellen. Research results show that farmed meat is not a detriment to conventional agriculture, but rather a model for farms. However, over the years, a more centralized approach has gained support. Based on the results of various studies and because no one else has gone down the path of decentralized production, we founded RESPECTfarms.
How did you come to the subject personally? What is your background?
I got involved in sustainability and future technologies with my studies. Many, including myself, want to contribute to a sustainable future. So, a few years ago, I stopped eating meat for environmental reasons. But somehow that wasn’t enough. I wanted to contribute something meaningful. Obviously, I’m still young at 27, but even I know that time is limited. And better to change today than tomorrow. Regarding agriculture, my uncle himself came from an agricultural background, so I was aware of the whole issue associated with it at an early age. And then I was in the right place at the right time. A few people gave me the opportunity to be a part of RESPECTfarms. Sometimes you just have a feeling when something is right.
But when I was in the Netherlands, I saw how far other countries have come and where we stand in Germany. Due to the many political challenges and requirements, I am General Manager of CellAg Deutschland eV. As a non-profit organization, we are committed to accelerating this transition by advocating, among other things, open access research, public funding, and simplifying regulations. Let’s end it this way: there’s a lot to do, and maybe that’s why I’m here.
You started working on an international research project in September 2022. What happened since then?
You can do a lot in five months, but three things would stand out to me. First, we released the world’s first vision film of what agriculture could look like in the future: Named Cellular. It is now available in several languages.
Second, we formed a consortium with partners along the value chain for decentralized production projects, because other companies are also interested in pioneering, being “first” and caring about the future of our food system. And we are aware that we alone cannot build this concept quickly. Therefore, for the first time in history, we convinced the German meat and meat substitute producer Rügenwalder Mühle and the Swiss agricultural cooperative Fenaco to develop this concept with us. You could say we’ve become very European these past few months. This fact makes me very proud personally because agriculture transcends borders and joins forces within our countries.
To support this research, we have raised funds for research studies. With funding from the European Union, the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture and industrial partners, we have announced an investment of around 900,000 euros in research into decentralized production.
And third, we expanded the RESPECTfarms team with our first three researchers. So…very exciting times for us.
The feasibility study started in January 2023. What results are being reviewed and when do you expect the first results?
We are exploring the fields of biopsies, biomass and bioreactors, particularly in farm locations. We bring technology from the lab to the decentralized production site, all connected to a business model suitable for the farm, within a circular system and within a short supply chain.
What is the response to your project? How is the meat industry/farmers responding to this project?
The response so far has been positive. We are already researching the acceptance of farmers. The first results in the Netherlands look promising and we will extend these studies to Germany, Switzerland, France and Belgium.
Last week I spoke at the DLG Winter Conference 2023, one of the largest agricultural organizations in Europe. Due to great interest, two rooms had to be put together. Farmers are vulnerable. This is good and will make us better. After my speaking slot, there was a question from a farmer about biomass and production conditions. I then asked if he believed he would not be able to produce farmed meat. His reply: “I didn’t say that. I want to know how I can do this in the future.” And this is a great example and answer to this question. This is why RESPECT Farms exists. We are focused on the “how”.
What impact will cellular agriculture have on traditional agriculture?
I expect a big impact on traditional agriculture, just as big as the impact on various industries and changes in history. By 2040, about 5% of farms are expected to be cellular. That is millions of farms and huge markets. We were never seriously concerned about whether cellular agriculture would have an impact. The only question is when will it come to scale and who will benefit from it. So it is important to start working on the possibilities of how to get involved with this emerging industry. Obviously, the sooner you start the more promising it is.
What role can cellular agriculture play in climate protection and agricultural change? What would political support ideally look like?
Cellular agriculture can play an important role in climate protection and agricultural change. It requires 7-45% less energy (only chickens need less), produces 78-96% less greenhouse gas emissions and uses 82-96% less water, depending on the comparable product. With 99% less land use, land can be used very differently, and animals can be housed differently.
At the policy level in Germany, this would be a way to more effectively implement the federal government’s goals, such as 30% organic farming by 2030. Regarding the transformation of conventional farms, we need research funding for projects like RESPECTfarms, and future funding programs need to be put in place. It is accompanied by clear and simple regulations and guidelines But driving such a transformation requires public funding and a deep government strategy. All this takes time. So, we should start working and I would like to invite the German government or other countries to do a non-profit like RESPECTfarms and CellAg Germany in this regard.
The science and business behind RESPECTfarms is a four-member founding team. Meanwhile, other sponsors and partners have gotten involved. Who are the partners?
I am very proud of my team. We are all pioneers and a little crazy. This can be one of the criteria for joining us. As research partners, we have farmed meat pioneer Mosa Meat, technology company Priva and a farmer. Our sponsors include German food producer Rügenwalder Mühle, Switzerland’s Fenaco Cooperative, Dutch Rabobank and GAIA, a Belgian animal rights organization.
Can companies still participate? What conditions must be met?
Yes, companies can still participate. The financial commitment of RESPECTfarms to join as well as our partners is not covered and relevant to the project.