Printing Food in India

Hi everyone and welcome back to the interview and analysis corner. This week, Eshan is back to tell us about another innovative company that is succeeding in the biotech space!

He’s going to give us a brief summary of Biokraft Foods, an India-based company that is working on PRINTING food. Let’s dig in.

Hi everyone, Eshan speaking.

Imagine a world where biotech and 3D printing combine to craft meat, rather than raise it. Well, Mumbai-based Biokraft Foods is doing exactly that in order to feed a growing population without compromising the planet’s health.

An agricultural problem

Despite the numerous environmental consequences of traditional agriculture, the world continues to eat more meat. However, it is becoming increasingly evident that traditional farming methods are unable to meet the world's growing appetite for the stuff.

Biokraft Foods was founded with a vision to confront the complex issues of traditional animal agriculture. And, with the global population expected to reach around 10 billion by 2050, the demand for sustainable food production methods has never been more pressing.

Indeed, in India - one of the leading poultry producers in the world - urbanisation and rising income levels have driven a rapid surge in demand for chicken, a trend that Biokraft recognises as neither sustainable, nor ethical. 

Explaining the plan

The company operate at the crossroads of two rapidly expanding industries, cultivated meat and 3D food printing, which are both valued at over $200 million.

By leveraging 3D bioprinting technology, Biokraft can accurately replicate the textures and flavours of traditional meat, making it easier for consumers to transition to cultivated alternatives.

On top of that, the company purposefully targets the Indian and Singaporean markets, recognising their strong and increasing appetite for meat products.

Meet the team

The founder of Biokraft Foods, Kamalnayan Tibrewal, holds an M.Tech in Green Technology from the Institute Of Chemical Technology (“ICT”) with his academic research into cultivated meat and 3D bioprinting at the core of the company's mission.

Kamalnayan’s contribution to building a better bioeconomy goes beyond Biokraft Foods. As the President of the Good Food Institute's (“GFI”) Mumbai Smart Protein Project, he is actively involved in promoting alternative proteins among budding researchers. Together with the GFI, Kamalnayan is nurturing a community of change makers, exploring innovative solutions to feed the world sustainably. He lives and breathes this stuff.

Notably, too, Dr. Ratnesh Jain, a distinguished advisor and mentor at Biokraft Foods, brings extensive knowledge in biopharmaceuticals and bioprocess technology. As an Associate Professor at ICT Mumbai, Dr. Jain combines academic excellence with industry experience, making him a valuable asset to Biokraft Foods.

The path forward

Biokraft Foods recently secured an incubation spot at ICT-NICE, one of India's most famous incubators, which should provide the necessary infrastructure and collaborative support until the company hopefully establishes an independent R&D and manufacturing facility by the end of 2025.

The team has already developed the Proof-of-Concept (PoC) and anticipates having a viable prototype by mid-2024. Looking ahead to early 2025, the company’s focus will shift to initiating regulatory filings, pre-commercialisation efforts, and conducting trials, all with the ultimate goal of commercialising its product and technology by 2026.

Most pressingly though, Biokraft is in the process of filing an intellectual property (“IP”) application related to its 3D Bioprinting technology, which is instrumental in the development of its cultivated meat product.

I’m excited to see what happens next!

READ MORE

Hi there everyone! If you’re interested in more of what Eshan has to say on technology in the food industry, I would thoroughly recommend you have a read of his weekly newsletter, BETTER BIOECONOMY.

Like me, Eshan is doing his absolute best to advertise those who are making food healthier, cleaner, more sustainable, more animal-friendly AND accessible to all.

So, if you are interested in reading more on food tech, go check it out! Food Jungle approved ✅