24: From Tobacco to Steaks: Dana Yarden's Biotech Journey to Turn Tobacco into Natural Bioreactors

SustainNOW Podcast - Learn from entrepreneurs & scientists about climate solutions

In today's episode, I'm speaking with Dana Yarden, co-founder of BioBetter. Their vision is to solve one of the biggest bottlenecks in advancing cultivated meat to mass production.
They have invented a new way of creating growth factors, cheaper and faster, for the cultivated meat industry. Biobetter harnesses the inherent advantages of tobacco plants, turning them into natural bioreactors.
They grow in open fields, using renewable energy as a sustainable source for animal-free growth factors in other proteins. Founded in 2012 and incorporated in 2015, the company pivoted from products for farmer industry to producing growth factors for the cultivated meat industry.
They employ 40 people, raise 16 million US dollars so far and are based in Israel. I had a really enjoyable conversation with Dana, not only about the future of food tech, but also how empathy and love can bring us more together on a journey to solve the climate crisis.
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What if there was a way to produce meat without the environmental impact of traditional livestock farming? Dana Yarden, co-founder of BioBetter, believes there is and she’s at the forefront of this innovation. Join us as we delve into Dana's extraordinary journey in the biotech industry, from her early days working on products for farmers to now leading the charge in developing growth factors for the cultivated meat industry.
Dana and her team at BioBetter are pioneering a groundbreaking solution - transforming tobacco plants into natural bioreactors that produce animal-free growth factors. You'll discover the fascinating science behind how these plants are put to work, and the impressive advantages this method has over other production methods. What's more, Dana opens up about the journey to get approval from the FDA and the challenges and triumphs they've faced along the way.
But the innovation doesn't stop there - BioBetter's growth factors are being grown in the ground, not in a greenhouse. This shift in practice could not only drastically reduce the cost of growth factors but also contribute significantly to the sustainability of cultivated meat production. Dana also shares valuable insights on the importance of a strong network in the biotech industry and her passion for the progress of the food industry. So buckle up for a dive into a future where plants and proteins could revolutionize the way we produce and consume meat.

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Capíttulos

1. 24: From Tobacco to Steaks: Dana Yarden's Biotech Journey to Turn Tobacco into Natural Bioreactors (00:00:00)

2. Can you introduce yourself? (00:02:18)

3. How long does it take to use the tobacco plants? (00:07:15)

4. What is needed to create cultivated meat? (00:09:29)

5. How many growth factors are you making? (00:11:50)

6. Do you need FDA approval for these products? (00:12:20)

7. What is the current standing of your company? (00:14:00)

8. What is the price point for the growth factors? (00:16:30)

9. What needs to change to accelerate this field? (00:22:03)

10. Do you feel that the excitement around the cultivated meat industry has cooled down in the last few years? (00:28:00)

11. What kind of challenges do you need to overcome in the scaling up phase? (00:31:00)

12. Do you need to raise more funds? (00:32:30)

13. What is your driving force in founding companies? (00:33:10)

14. If you could improve one thing in the world, what would it be? (00:34:15)

15. Are there any books/podcasts that you inspired your journey? (00:35:00)

16. How can people get in touch with you? (00:38:10)