Meatly Raises £10 million to Build Europe’s Largest Cultivated Meat Plant and Cuts Culture Medium to 22p/L

Meatly, a UK‑based food‑tech startup, announced a £10 million Series A round that will fund a 20,000‑litre pilot plant—the largest of its kind in Europe. The site in London will be fitted immediately, with pet‑food products slated for launch in 2027. Existing investors Agronomics, Clean Growth Fund and JamJar joined new backers Oyster Bay Venture Capital and others, bringing total capital raised to £17.4 million.

Elise Schumacher of Oyster Bay Venture Capital said Meatly is “laying the foundations for an entirely new protein category.” She highlighted cultivated meat as a sustainable, ethical alternative to conventional animal protein. Meatly’s CEO Owen Ensor echoed the sentiment, noting that the company now possesses “industry‑leading technology” ready for scale.

A key hurdle for cultivated meat has been the cost of the culture medium—the nutrient solution that feeds cells. Meatly announced a reduction to 22 pence per litre, down from £1 per litre a year earlier, and aims for 1.5 p at full industrial capacity. The company also built a 320‑litre pilot bioreactor that cost £12,500, roughly 95 % cheaper than traditional fermenters that can exceed £250,000.

The cost cuts matter because price competitiveness determines market adoption. By driving medium costs toward pennies per litre, Meatly moves cultivated chicken closer to parity with conventional meat, especially in the pet‑food segment where it already holds UK regulatory approval. Early trials showed strong dog engagement and higher owner satisfaction compared with baseline diets.

Meatly’s expansion signals a shift from proof‑of‑concept to commercial production in Europe. The new plant will test larger bioreactors, refine medium formulations and scale up output to meet anticipated demand for sustainable pet protein.

What to watch next: progress on the London plant’s construction, the 2027 pet‑food rollout, and whether Meatly can achieve the 1.5 p per litre medium cost at commercial scale.