Work

When materials fail at scale: Compatibility risks in cultured meat and seafood manufacturing

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: The transition of cultured meat and seafood technologies from laboratory research to commercial production depends on biological performance and the robustness, safety, and sustainability of the underlying manufacturing infrastructure. When scaling-up, choices regarding material selection, component compatibility, and interface design can significantly influence process reliability, contamination risk, and environmental impact. Nevertheless, compatibility-related failures, which often emerge only at pilot or industrial scales, are not well understood, potentially leading to over-engineering of some process steps while critical control points elsewhere go unaddressed. This work examines compatibility challenges across key subsystems of cultured meat and seafood production, including bioreactors, fluid handling systems, filtration units, and ancillary components. Adopting a risk-based engineering perspective, we discuss how materials change under process operating conditions over prolonged periods and how this can lead to failures affecting process performance and food safety. Moreover, trade-offs between single-use and multi-use technologies are discussed in the context of operational practicality and sustainability. By focusing on compatibility as a system-level engineering consideration, this work provides practical insights for technology developers, entrepreneurs and researchers aiming to accelerate safe and sustainable deployment of cultured meat and seafood manufacturing platforms.

Source: Future Foods

DOI: 10.1016/j.fufo.2026.101213