Modern Meadow's technology pivot takes its bio-based leather closer to commercialization

February 10, 2020 | Case Study

Modern Meadow had originally expressed its intent to make leather and meat using tissue engineering methods. The company's earlier patent applications outlined the use of edible microcarriers for cultured meat production. It later exclusively focused on bio-based leather. For the production of bio-based leather, the company originally employed tissue culture technology by building tissue via cell aggregates or by 3D printing into layered sheets. In an interesting technology pivot, it moved to a fermentation-based method using an engineered yeast strain for production of collagen protein, which is then formulated and layered into leather.