Chinese biotech company CellX has launched what it claims to be China's first large-scale pilot plant for cultivated meat production. Named FX plant, it has a capacity of 1,000 tons of meat and will serve as a testing ground for scaled production. CellX plans to launch a commercial-scale production factory in 2025.

The production facility uses proprietary cell cultivation technology, including a suspension cell line and low-cost serum-free culture medium—which enables the production of cultivated meat at competitive costs—aiming for prices below USD 100 per lb. 

Moreover, the facility will allow consumers to taste CellX's cultivated meat developments, including its flagship product, cultivated chicken breast, and cultivated pork grown from China’s native black pig.

Analyst QuickTake: The buildout of the facility was supported by its recent USD 6.5 million Series A funding and partnership with Tofflon , a Shanghai-based biotech equipment supplier. According to Horizon’s 2023 Alternative Protein Report, an estimated USD 30 million–100 million capital investment is required for a full-scale production plant based on equipment and facility costs. Therefore, CellX will need to secure additional funding to fully develop the production process and achieve competitive cost levels and market viability.