Polish start-up LabFarm has made a groundbreaking advancement in cultivated meat production by creating the first batch of lab-grown chicken. This achievement is not only a technological innovation but also a crucial step towards more sustainable food production. The prototype product was developed after two years of intensive research, with the total project costing PLN 10 million.

LabFarm, founded in 2021 during the pandemic, quickly gained investors' trust despite challenging economic conditions. The start-up secured approximately PLN 10 million in funding, allowing it to focus on research and development. This investment has culminated in the production of the first batch of cultured meat, which has the potential to revolutionise the future of the food market.

The past three months have been pivotal for LabFarm. After extensive testing and research, the company has successfully developed a product that can not only be observed under a microscope but also prepared for consumption.

"We had previously viewed the product under the microscope, but now it was time to put it in the pan," said Wieslaw Macherzyński, COO and co-owner of LabFarm, in an interview with Forbes. The first cultured chicken cutlet was unveiled in mid-June at the ProVeg New Food Forum conference at the Copernicus Science Centre in Warsaw, where it garnered significant interest.

LabFarm produces meat in a laboratory through a process known as cell farming. Pure meat is cultivated in sterile conditions, without bones, skin, or feathers, free from antibiotics and contaminants. As described on the company's website, this clean meat is real, wholesome meat grown outside the animal's body, enabling food production without killing animals.

Despite this initial success, the path to mass production of cultured meat remains long and challenging. LabFarm has recently secured PLN 9.08 million in funding from a grant provided by the National Centre for Research and Development. This will allow the company to scale production and prepare for future industrial processes.

However, as Wieslaw Macherzyński acknowledges, "it is like preparing an expedition to the moon. There is still a lot we don't know that we don't know." Consequently, the commercialisation of cellular meat in Poland is not expected for at least another two to three years. Initially, it will primarily be used as an ingredient in animal feed.