The South Korean government has designated a special regulatory-free zone in Gyeongsangbuk-do province to accelerate the development and commercialization of cultivated meat. The zone, officially named the Gyeongbuk Cell-Cultivated Foods Regulatory-Free Special Zone, aims to address legal obstacles and establish global standards for novel foods.
The zone, which will operate for the next five years, has a budget of ₩19.9 billion ($14.4 million) and will be home to 10 companies, including SeaWith, TissenBioFarm, and DaNAgreen. These companies will demonstrate the commercialization of cultivated meat using cells from livestock samples and will receive R&D funding and tax breaks.
The companies will first create cell banks from high-purity cells obtained from live animals and fresh meat, setting quality and safety standards for storage, handling, and manufacturing. In the second phase, they will demonstrate mass production and commercialization, including developing methods such as 3D printing and creating food additives.
The designation of the special zone is expected to enhance the competitiveness of companies like TissenBioFarm, which believes it will allow them to collaborate with local companies to achieve growth. The South Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety has been evaluating the safety and manufacturing processes of cultivated meat since including official guidance for alternative proteins in the National Plan 2022.
The ministry has also started accepting applications for the approval of cultivated meat, which was previously limited to research and development purposes only. The designation of the special zone is expected to create an ecosystem for the cell culture industry in the region, addressing the biggest obstacle to the development of cell culture food products.
