Cell Based Tech Weekly – Lab Grown Psilocybin 🍄, Russian Meatloaf, Evonik Invests in Modern Meadow, SGI-DNA Raises $25M

Scientists from Miami University in Ohio, engineered E. coli bacteria using DNA from the Psilocybe cubensis mushroom to successfully cultivate  psilocybin AKA cell based magic mushrooms. https://cellbased.link/rh7

🍄pPsilo16, named by the researchers, yields more of the psilocybin compound than any genetically modified organism to date: 1.16 grams of psilocybin per liter.

Advancements

🇷🇺 Russia enters the cell based meat space with the announcement of a cell based “meatloaf” made by Moscow based lab, Ochakov Food Ingredients Plant (OKPI). https://cellbased.link/k0t

• The meatloaf was only 1.5 oz and took three experiments, carried out over the course of two years. 

Investments

🙋‍♀️The venture capital arm of German specialty chemical company, Evonik, invested in cell based materials company, Modern Meadow (investment amount undisclosed).

• Leveraging production capacity, the investment is part of a larger strategic partnership for Modern Meadow to move into commercial production at an Evonik site in Slovakia starting in 2020. https://cellbased.link/r9u

🧬Gene synthesis company SGI-DNA, completed a $25 million Series A financing round led by Northpond Ventures, with participation from Oxford Finance and BroadOak Capital Partners. The financing will be used for the commercial launch of the first fully automated gene printer, the BioXp System. https://cellbased.link/31269

Publicity

A research report conducted by the Good Food Institute suggests a new way to describe cell based meat may be the most favorable with consumers: “cultivated meat.” https://cellbased.link/eof

The top terms being used right now:

• Cultivated Meat 
• Cell-cultured Meat
• Cell-based Meat 
• Cultured Meat