Bene Meat Technologies, a Czech cell-cultured meat startup, has received EU approval for its lab-grown meat for use in pet food.

The company has also announced its next steps, including taste testing and expanding production in its existing Prague lab and new facilities. Discussions are also underway with pet food manufacturers for supplies and potential collaborations for production lines at their facilities. In addition, the company plans to create its own brand of finished pet food products.

The company also expects to set prices to make the product commercially viable, allowing the finished products to be sold at premium and super-premium pet food price levels on the market.

Analyst QuickTake: Having focused on creating affordable meat alternatives for cell-cultured protein producers and, ultimately, consumers of the end product, Bene Meat has now started focusing on the pet food sector, providing raw materials for inclusion in final pet products. The company specializes in the development of large-scale bioreactors and the formation of 3D structures for cell-cultured meat encompassing beef, pork, and chicken.