Novella, Metaphor Foods partner to produce natural meat preservatives
Deal targets shelf life extension and cost reduction using plant cell-based compounds.
ISRAEL – Biotech firm Novella Innovative Technology and Australian ingredient company Metaphor Foods have signed a long-term agreement to develop clean-label meat preservatives made from lab-grown plant cells.
The collaboration will use Novella’s AuraCell™ platform to produce natural antioxidant and antimicrobial compounds for Metaphor’s Hela Natvance® product range.
Initial lab tests in Hela-Schwarz facilities showed the new compounds extended meat shelf life by 30% and reduced costs compared to existing natural preservatives.
Metaphor Foods CEO Geoff Gordon said the first focus is on meat and poultry applications, with plans to expand into other food categories.
The agreement is worth US$10 million over seven years based on expected demand in the meat sector alone.
Manufacturers are under pressure to remove synthetic preservatives and are turning to natural alternatives, but current options like tocopherols and rosemary extract come with issues such as taste, inconsistent performance, and high costs.
Novella’s technology allows for growing plant-based compounds without using the whole plant, cutting down on raw material waste and reducing resource consumption by 99%.
The ingredients are produced under controlled conditions, ensuring a steady supply and uniform quality that bypasses agricultural and climate-related risks.
Novella is finalizing the scale-up process to prepare for commercial production by early 2026 and is running consistency tests on large batches.
Beyond meat, the companies plan to apply the same technology to seafood, dairy, bakery, alternative protein, and pet food products.
Metaphor, the innovation unit of Hela APAC, will manage product validation, regulatory processes, and regional distribution, especially across the Asia-Pacific market.
The companies are positioning this solution as a stable alternative in a market increasingly affected by climate-related crop failures and unpredictable ingredient prices.
The food preservative sector is currently valued at US$3.18 billion and expected to reach over US$4.51 billion by 2033, driven by rising demand for clean-label ingredients.
Founded in 2022, Novella is focused on producing botanical ingredients in controlled environments without using traditional farming or genetically modified organisms.
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