Pluri Receives First-Ever Patent for 3D Bioreactor Technology in Plant Cell Cultivation – vegconomist
Pluri’s 3D technology enables the cultivation of plant cells in bioreactors to develop sustainable and disease-free plant material for various sectors, from sustainable agriculture to healthcare.
According to the company, approximately one-fifth of the 50,000 medical plants used today are on a list of threatened species, while climate change and restricted access to fresh water threaten temperature-sensitive crops such as coffee and cacao.
Yaky Yanay, Pluri’s CEO and President, commented: “PluriAgtech’s patented technology can be used for a wide range of plant cell products, such as food and beverages, medicine, ingredients, and more.
“This key patent solidifies our leadership in cell expansion technology and aligns with our strategic vision to scale the production of cell-based products industrially, potentially opening a broad spectrum of market opportunities.”
Coffee and other phytochemicals
PluriAgtech leverages Pluri’s 3D cell expansion technology to produce cell-based coffee.
As explained by Pluri, coffee intake has increased by 60% over the past three decades. Yet, the burgeoning $130 billion coffee sector faces jeopardy from global warming, which threatens to decrease suitable cultivation land by as much as 50% by the year 2050.
However, Pluri claims its plant cell cultivation technology can produce high-quality coffee with 98% less water and 95% less growing area, thus preventing deforestation and making it a viable solution to the coffee crisis.
Like cultivated meat, plant-cell cultivation relies on cells and their capacity to grow in bioreactors under controlled settings and feedstocks that support their replication and growth. In the case of coffee, the cells grow until they reach a desired biomass, which is then collected, dried, and roasted to make the final product.
Pluri’s cell cultivation technology is valuable because it allows the development of an extensive array of phytochemicals without relying on crops, alleviating some of the pressure agriculture puts on land, water, and biodiversity.
With over 140 active and granted patents, Pluri believes its IP portfolio underlines its role as a pioneer in the agtech industry while providing the company with a competitive advantage for innovation.
Yanay adds: “We see many opportunities in the agtech space, where Pluri is at the forefront of providing sustainable solutions for humanity’s greatest challenges both through our own proprietary products and in conjunction with potential partners.”
