Japanese company Ajinomoto Co. has developed a plant-based technology that could help reduce the cost of cultured meat production by replacing the expensive ingredient transferrin with a cheaper, plant-derived compound called hinokitiol. This compound is proven to perform the same iron-delivery function as transferrin within serum-free media, leading to increased cell proliferation volumes. The technology is patent-pending and has already been approved as a food additive in Japan, providing a safety reference for its use in food applications.

Ajinomoto intends to supply the hinokitiol-based technology to cultivated meat manufacturers, rather than producing cultivated meat itself. The company's focus on reducing the cost of culture media aligns with the industry's goal of achieving commercial viability. Prototype testing has been completed, and Ajinomoto aims to introduce the technology commercially within the next few years, offering a promising solution to one of the biggest cost barriers in cultivated meat production.