No Cows, No Compromise: Israel’s Clean Meat Vision for a Greener Planet

The Israeli company Aleph Farms is a pioneer in the development of cultivated meat products. Founded in 2017 by Didier Toubia and Professor Shulamit Levenberg, the company specializes in the production of lab-grown beef steaks. Using a technique that allows animal cells to be cultivated in a bioreactor—mimicking the biological conditions of the animal’s body—they eliminate the need for traditional slaughter. Their flagship product, the cultivated Petit Steak, is made from non-modified, non-immortalized cells from a premium Black Angus cow named Lucy, combined with a plant-based protein matrix of soy and wheat.

In 2024, Aleph Farms received the world’s first regulatory approval for cultivated beef from the Israeli Ministry of Health, allowing the company to produce and sell its products on the domestic market.

"At Aleph Farms, our goal is not to replace traditional meat, but to build a more sustainable, ethical, and resilient food system. Cultivated meat provides a concrete answer to some of the most pressing challenges of our time — whether it’s climate change, food security, or animal welfare. This isn’t innovation for the sake of innovation — it’s innovation with purpose,"said Didier Toubia, CEO and co-founder of Aleph Farms.

The company is deeply committed to sustainability, aiming for carbon neutrality in its operations by 2025 and across its entire supply chain by 2030. In 2019, Aleph Farms conducted the first-ever experiment in space to grow meat aboard the International Space Station, in collaboration with 3D Bioprinting Solutions, producing small-scale muscle tissue in microgravity.

Aleph Farms has attracted significant investment from a variety of sources, including a $105 million Series B funding round in 2021. Notably, actor and environmental advocate Leonardo DiCaprio joined Aleph Farms as an advisor and investor, supporting its mission to transform the food system and combat climate change.

However, despite its groundbreaking innovations, the company—headquartered in Rehovot—is currently facing financial challenges. In early 2025, Aleph Farms launched an emergency fundraising round seeking $25 million to sustain its operations, following a marked decline in investor interest in alternative protein and cultivated meat sectors. Additionally, in mid-2024, the company laid off approximately 30% of its workforce due to difficulties in securing major investments.

Aleph Farms stands at the forefront of a global food revolution. By combining biotechnological innovation, environmental ethics, and strategic vision, the Israeli company is not merely producing lab-grown meat — it is redefining how we think about food, sustainability, and food sovereignty.

Caroline Haïat