Members of the New South Wales parliament had the unique opportunity last week to taste the signature lamb meatballs and pork dumplings of cultivated meat company, Magic Valley. Cellular agriculture offers an opportunity for Australian biotechnology to lead the future of food, and Magic Valley is one of the forerunners.
With cultivated meat representing a multi-billion-dollar global opportunity – and demand surging for sustainable, ethical protein – Magic Valley is poised to lead Australia’s charge into the future of food.
Source: Magic Valley
Magic Valley has previously made headlines with world-first breakthroughs in cultivated meat. In 2022, it became the first company globally to produce animal component-free cultivated lamb using induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Since then, it has launched its cultivated pork and beef prototypes, and moved into a pilot facility at Co-Labs in Melbourne. This helped Magic Valley scale up its bioprocess development, optimise cell growth conditions, and achieve record cell densities in bioreactors.
The tasting at parliament showcased Magic Valley’s real meat products, made using advanced biotechnology. Guests included Treasurer, Daniel Mookhey, and Minister for Innovation, Anoulack Chanthivong.
Event host and Animal Justice Party representative, Emma Hurst, said she had no doubt that cultivated meat will change the world.
“There is a real economic opportunity for New South Wales and Australia to become a leader in the production, sale and export of cellular agriculture and to be part of this worldwide shift in the food system,” said Hurst.
Magic Valley is currently raising capital to build its first manufacturing facility in Australia – a state-agnostic project that could bring jobs and high-tech infrastructure to any forward-thinking state government willing to partner. The company recently received a $100,000 grant from the federal government and is eligible for up to $5 million in funding through the government’s Industry Growth Program (IGP).
Magic Valley CEO, Paul Bevan, said the company’s mission isn’t just about food – it’s about jobs, technology, and positioning Australia as a leader in one of the world’s fastest-growing industries.
“With support from both government and private investors, we can build advanced facilities, create regional employment, and export high-tech protein to the world,” said Bevan.
