Shanghai, China – CellX, a leading developer of cell-cultured meat, announced the inauguration of China’s first large-scale pilot factory in Shanghai on Wednesday, Aug 9. The unveiling ceremony took place at the CellX Research and Development Center, signifying the factory’s official commencement of production.
The groundbreaking event, titled “HELLO 百元时代” (Hello Century Era), heralded the launch of the country’s first 1,000-liter pilot plant dedicated to cell-cultured meat.
Named FX (Future Food Factory X), the factory draws its inspiration from FuXi, a legendary figure considered the originator of livestock farming in China. This symbolic name suggests that the emergence of cell-cultured meat represents a new frontier in meat production.
Yang Ziliang, co-founder and CEO of CellX, shared the company’s global ambitions, indicating simultaneous efforts to gain product approvals in countries like the U.S. and Singapore. CellX plans to submit its products for evaluation this year, with an anticipated international market debut by 2025. “Through advancements in technology, product development, market strategy, and regulatory compliance, we aim to be at the forefront in bringing CellX products to the market,” Yang stated.
Sources note that this pilot stage is crucial for testing before scaling up to mass production. Leveraging its proprietary suspended cell lines and low-cost serum-free culture media, CellX’s FX pilot plant has successfully reduced production costs per unit to several hundred Yuan, rivaling global leaders.
Earlier in June, the company announced the completion of a multi-million Yuan Series A+ funding round, attracting various strategic investors. The capital raised will be allocated towards advancing industrialization, including the construction of the large-scale pilot factory, procurement of essential equipment, and the R&D of industrial technologies.
Established in 2021, CellX specializes in the R&D of cell-cultured meat technology and products. Using tissue engineering and 3D bio-printing technologies, the firm aims to bypass animals as intermediaries, producing cell-cultured meat sustainably in vitro. This approach aligns with the company’s mission to promote healthier food choices, ecological conservation, and improved animal welfare. Notably, in the first half of 2022, CellX secured nearly 100 million Yuan in Series A funding.
With its established technical platforms encompassing cell lines, culture media, novel processes, and innovative products, CellX had previously unveiled plans early this year to complete China’s first 1,000-liter cell-cultured meat pilot plant.