The Meatleo Lab
We knew from the start that we wanted a lab that would connect to our mission of producing meat that is tasty, nutritious and respectful of animals and our planet.
We want to operate in the real world. We want to be masters of our destiny and not rely on third parties and consultants for core development endeavors.
As with Meatleo itself, our laboratory had to be inspiring and stimulating. Its innovative cell biology and tissue engineering technologies must carry us through our development of cultivated meat. With industrial scale always in our mind, we had to stay compatible with this monumental challenge.
For that, we had to build one.
Humble beginnings
The challenges of building a cell culture lab from scratch were not lost on me. Still, I did not expect having to find piano movers for some of our equipment and I certainly wasn’t ready to repeat over and over: “no sorry, I don’t have a forklift”.
It was stimulating beyond words finding and creating solutions for a challenging space while maintaining capabilities to match our scientific directives.
We had to make decisions on which items were critical, and which weren’t. I learned that most of the lab equipment I know and love has a miniature or a more economical version. When possible, we went for those. As for the important things like analytical equipment and microscope, no concession or compromise were tolerated. Elements that safeguard against contaminations were also on the forefront of our priorities. Every single dollar saved that way is applied to better assays, more brain power and caring for our bovines.
The layout was designed in a way to maximize ergonomics and productivity. Multiple users can work at different stations, help each other, and share ideas.
I tried to apply the KonMari Method*, but annoyingly, everything in that lab gave me joy.
The Meatleo Lab is now fully capable of receiving biopsies from our lovely bovine trio and cultivating those cells to their full potential. The ability to perform 2D and 3D culture experiments at the Meatleo Lab is an important step that we’re very proud to have accomplished.
Great space and room to grow
As many of my fellow lab workers reading this might appreciate, we do have some elements of luxury. A large inside window wall to the rest of our team keeps us grounded and collaborative as another one to the outside world and nature will undoubtedly help us through those hard days grinding experiments at the lab.
As we grow the team with engaged, competent, creative and knowledgeable talent, we expect the need for more equipment, and materials. We made sure we can still perform some small “Tetris” miracles and grow the lab capabilities to stay flexible, courageous and open minded in our radical innovation.
If you build it, they will come
About Meatleo®
Formed to tackle one of modern society’s greatest challenges now within reach, food biotech company Meatleo® intends to apply its proprietary scientific process to produce delicious, nutritious beef without slaughter animals or harm to our planet.
By means of cell culture and a unique manufacturing bioprocess, we intend to accelerate the necessary and inevitable transition to sustainable meat consumption at scale.
Notice about this article
The masculine references are used in our texts only for the purpose of simplifying their form and facilitating their reading. Meatleo® is a company open to the diversity of genders, races, and aims for both human and animal well-being.
*When decluttering a space, pick up an object and ask yourself: Does this item spark joy? -Marie Kondo