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Seizing the Biomanufacturing Opportunity: Demonstrating Scale-Up in Cultivated Foods
A full day conference by APAC-SCA & Cell AgriTech that brings together thought leaders, innovators, and policymakers to explore the pivotal role of biomanufacturing in scaling cultivated food technologies.
09 September 2025, 8.30AM–6PM (MYT)
Cell AgriTech Centre of Excellence, 3014, Jalan Kelasah, Bandar Seberang Jaya,13700 Perai, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
Biomanufacturing is at the core of the cellular agriculture industry. Recognised as a massive agent in creating a sustainable food future for coming generations, Malaysia has pledged their support to explore the industry's potential with a feasibility study underway. On 9th September 2025, 160 participants joined Cell AgriTech and the APAC Society for Cellular Agriculture at the first and only biomanufacturing facility dedicated to cultivated foods in Penang, Malaysia, for a conference “Seizing the Biomanufacturing Opportunity: Demonstrating Scale-Up in Cultivated Foods”.
Honourable guests and participants experienced the excitement of creating cultivated foods with exclusive guided tours around Cell AgriTech’s facility and saw for themselves the equipment and bioprocesses that produce food for the future.
This full day conference in Penang, Malaysia will include participants from government agencies, policy makers, regulators, food manufacturers, investors, restaurant groups, and industry stakeholders. With biomanufacturing at its core, this is an event like no other for the cellular agriculture industry in 2025.
Registration + Breakfast Networking
08.20AM - 09.00AM
Event Ticket Confirmation
Please show your ticket confirmation email at the registration counter to collect your lanyard - your group for the exhibition tour and the guided facility and laboratory tour is printed on the name badge. Please return the lanyard at the end of the conference. Breakfast networking is available in the dining hall.
Welcoming Remarks & Opening Address
09.00AM - 10.00AM
Jason Ng, Manufacturing Vice President, Cell AgriTech (Biography)
Guest-of-Honour:
YAB Tuan Chow Kon Yeow,
Chief Minister of Penang
Keynote Speakers' Session
10.00AM - 10.10AM
"Current State and Opportunities in the Cell Ag Industry"
The cellular agriculture (cell ag) industry stands at a pivotal juncture, transitioning from scientific novelty to commercial reality. This session will provide a comprehensive overview of the current landscape, highlighting recent technological breakthroughs, regulatory milestones, and market readiness across key regions. From cultivated meat to precision fermentation and hybrid products, we will explore how innovation is shaping product development, cost reduction, and scalability.
Peter Yu, Program Director,
APAC Society for Cellular Agriculture (Biography)
Keynote Speakers' Session
10.10AM - 10.20AM
"Policy Pathways for Cultivated Meat: Bridging Innovation and Regulation"
Since Dr. Mark Post debuted the world’s first cultivated beef burger in 2013, the field has seen rapid progress—from serum-free media and cell line development to hybrid products combining cultivated fat with plant-based proteins. These breakthroughs signal immense commercial potential, but scaling remains a regulatory and infrastructural challenge. What policy levers can unlock this next phase? This talk explores the key innovations shaping the future of cultivated meat and outlines the regulatory frameworks needed to move from lab bench to dinner plate.
Thiruchelvi Rajagobal Reddy, Policy Associate, Good Food Institute Asia Pacific (Biography)
Keynote Speakers' Session
10.20AM - 10.50AM
"Cultivated Meat Production Process & Equipment Demonstration"
Growing meat and fish from cells isn’t rocket science and it’s certainly not something to fear. It’s a natural process, just like how animals grow, by feeding cells with nutrients in the right environment in tank. The industry seems costly because it borrows from bio-pharma, but meat cells are simply animal cells. We don’t need millions, pharma standards, or cleanrooms. In this session, I’ll walk you through the full process, from cell growth to harvest to food assembly, and showcase our affordable, plug-and-play equipment that’s simple, efficient, and scalable.
Jason Ng, Manufacturing Vice President, Cell AgriTech
(Biography)
Panel Discussion Session
10.50AM - 11.20AM
"Opportunities in Cultivated Meat & Seafood"
Moderator: Peter Yu, Program Director, APAC Society for Cellular Agriculture
(Biography)
Panellist: Carrie Chan, Co-Founder & CEO, Avant (Biography)
Panellist: Dr. Jay Jee, Co-Founder & CTO, DaNAgreen
(Biography)
Panellist: Karsten Schellhaus, Principal & Owner, Schellhas Food Technology Consultants (Biography)
Break Time
11.20AM - 11.30AM
A 10 minutes break time has been allocated for all participants, please return to the conference hall by 11.30AM
Panel Discussion Session
11.30AM - 12.00PM
"Product Costs in Cultivated Meat & Seafood Production"
Moderator: Jason Ng, Manufacturing Vice President, Cell AgriTech
(Biography)
Panellist: Yuki Hanyu, Founder & CEO, IntegriCulture
(Biography)
Panellist: Claire Han, Application Manager (Liquid Technologies), GEA (Biography)
Panellist: Louis Cheung, COO, JS Biosciences
(Biography)
Panel Discussion Session
12.00PM - 12.30PM
"Fundraising Strategies in Southeast Asia"
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Moderator: Melissa Ong, Founder & Managing Partner, First Frontier Ventures (Biography)
Panellist: Mahesa Saravanan, Investment Associate, Lever VC
(Biography)
Panellist: Sagar Tandon, Partner, Beyond Impact VC (Biography)
Networking Lunch
12.30PM - 1.30PM
An hour long networking lunch session has been prepared for all participants, please return to the conference hall by 1.30PM
Keynote Speakers' Session
1.30PM - 1.50PM
"Navigating Halal Certification for Cultivated Meat & Seafood"
An overview of regulatory and religious considerations in halal certification for cultivated meat and seafood products. The presentation covers MUIS's certification requirements and assessment framework, current global halal determinations for cultivated proteins, and ongoing discussions and engagements with religious authorities on the permissibility of cellular agriculture technologies.
Nurul Hidayah Abubakar, Assistant Director, Halal Certification Unit, Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura (MUIS)
(Biography)
Keynote Speakers' Session
1.50PM - 2.10PM
"Are Food Safety Management Systems Essential for Cultivated Food Production?"
As the cultivated foods industry advances from innovation to commercialisation, a strong and adaptive Food Safety Management System (FSMS) is essential to ensure consumer trust, ease regulatory approval, protect brands and provide long-term viability. This presentation explores how globally recognised food safety frameworks such as HACCP and ISO 22000 can be tailored to the unique processes and risks in the production of cultivated foods, including case studies of FSMS implementation.
Todd Redwood, Global Managing Director – Consumer, Retail & Food, BSI Group
(Biography)
Presentation & Panel Discussion Session
2.10PM - 2.40PM
"Regulatory Frameworks of Cultivated Meat & Seafood and its Future Outlook"
Moderator: Calisa Lim, Senior Project Manager, APAC Society for Cellular Agriculture
(Biography)
Panellist: Dr. Wanarat Sayamol, Pharmacist, Food Division, Thailand Food & Drug Administration
(Biography)
Panellist: Megumi Avigail Yoshitomi, Representative Director, Japan Association for Cellular Agriculture
(Biography)
Panellist: Peter Yu, Program Director, APAC Society for Cellular Agriculture (Biography)
Keynote Speakers' Session
2.40PM - 2.55PM
"Lessons Learned in the Regulatory Journey of Seeking Approval for Cultivated Foods"
Securing regulatory approval for cultivated meat and seafood is not just a scientific milestone—it’s a strategic journey that blends innovation, compliance, and collaboration. This presentation explores the real-world experience of preparing and submitting food applications for cultured foods highlighting the critical lessons learned along the way. Key topics include building a robust safety dossier, collaborating with regulators and external professionals, aligning with evolving regulatory landscape of novel foods, reflections on what worked, what didn’t, and what future applicants should know.
David Ettinger, Chief Representative, Keller and Heckman Shanghai, China
(Biography)
Keynote Speakers' Session
2.55PM - 3.15PM
"Bridging Academia and Industry: Advancing Cultivated Meat & Seafood through Education, Partnerships, and Student Leadership"
As the global demand for sustainable and ethical food solutions accelerates, Temasek Polytechnic (TP) stands at the forefront in shaping the future of cultivated meat and seafood innovation through education, industry partnership, and talent development. In this presentation, Dr James Lim will highlight TP’s strategic collaborations and integrated approach in nurturing next-generation talent, particularly through the establishment of the APAC-SCA Student Chapter.
James Lim, Lecturer, Future Foods Domain, School of Applied Sciences, Temasek Polytechnic (Biography)
High Tea + Networking
3.15PM - 3.30PM
A 15 minutes networking high tea session has been prepared for all participants, the interactive product showcase and the guided facility and laboratory tour with live demonstrations by Cell AgriTech will start after.
Interactive Product Showcase
3.30PM - 4.10PM
Follow along for a 40 minutes exhibition tour will provide an in-depth presentations by the exhibition partners involved in equipments, optimising biomass production, culture medium, growth factors.
Guided Facility and Laboratory Tour with Live Demonstrations
4.10PM - 4.40PM
In this guided facility and laboratory tour, Cell AgriTech will showcase the full production process of cultivated meat—from cell proliferation to harvesting—spanning both lab-scale and manufacturing-scale operations. The tour includes a unique demonstration of cell cultivation, biomass harvesting, and a live cooking session to complete the experience.
Final Networking Session + Business Matching
4.40PM - 6.00PM
A final networking session shall conclude the conference. Take the opportunity to find collaborations, investments, and new business matches.
APAC-SCA (Student Chapter) Workshop
2PM - 4.30PM
APAC-SCA (Student Chapter)'s participants will attend a series of interactive workshops and facility tour. Please visit www.cellagstudent.com for more information for the student learning journey trip to Cell AgriTech's Centre of Excellence.
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