Agenda | Cultivated Meat Workshop

▸ Recording & sharing policy

Public · Recorded S1 and most of S3 are recorded and will be shared publicly (transcript, slides, edited recording). If you'd like a specific contribution kept off-record during these sessions, just say so and we'll pause.

Internal · Off-record S2 is not recorded. Nothing from S2 will be shared outside the participant group unless a participant explicitly asks us to share something they contributed. An internal-only notes summary will be circulated to registered participants within a few days.

Split S3 is split: the first half follows the same sharing rules as S1 (public, recorded, opt-out available); the second half (approx. final 25 minutes) follows the same rules as S2 — not recorded, nothing shared outside the participant group without contributor approval.

▸ Optional pre-sessions & alternate slots

Wed May 6 · 11:00–12:00 ET
(4–5pm UK · 5–6pm CET) Informal pre-session: Casual conversation for participants with scheduling conflicts on May 8. No preparation needed. Input carried forward into the main workshop. Not recorded.

Fri May 8 · 9:00–10:00 ET
(2–3pm UK · 3–4pm CET) European morning drop-in: Informal session for EU/UK participants who cannot stay for the full afternoon. Expect a small group; introductions and early framing questions. Not recorded. Input carried forward.

Main workshop · Fri May 8

11:00–12:10 ET
17:00–18:10 CET · 4–5:10pm UK S1 · Technical Foundations Public · RecordedThis session is recorded (video + transcript) and shared publicly on the Unjournal site. If you'd like a specific contribution kept off-record, just say so during the session and we'll pause. Slides from presentations will be shared with participant permission.

Media costs, bioreactors, and cell line technology: the three main technical cost drivers. Formal presentations followed by open Q&A.

Confirmed presentation + rough timings

~11:00–11:30 ET (17:00–17:30 CET): Two-part opening: (1) Introduction to The Unjournal's Pivotal Questions initiative and this workshop — what we are trying to learn and why, framing the belief-elicitation approach; (2) Overview of cultivated meat biology, engineering, and economics — walking through the shared model components (ideally presented by a participant with direct CM expertise; otherwise DR will walk through the key model inputs and assumptions). This sets a common reference point for the rest of the session.

~11:30–11:50 ET (17:30–17:50 CET): Aleksandra Fuchs (ACIB): Hydrolysates as full basal medium substitution + circular cell culture. ~10 minutes presentation + ~5 minutes comments/Q&A.

~11:50–12:10 ET (17:50–18:10 CET): Structured open discussion. Proposed topics:

Realistic cell densities and bioreactor scales achievable by 2036: what is the binding constraint (oxygen transfer, shear stress, something else)?
Gene-edited cell lines: realistic commercial adoption timeline and whether gene editing eliminates or merely reduces growth factor dependence
Bioreactor size and design choices, including custom-built vs. off-the-shelf (participants with relevant expertise welcome to contribute brief remarks)
State of current regulatory pathways: what are the main barriers (technical, regulatory, commercial), and how do they interact with cost projections?
Growth factor cost trajectories: what cost reductions are realistic, and over what horizon?
Other participant-led topics

This list is indicative, not exhaustive — other technically-relevant topics are welcome.

The confirmed participant group includes TEA researchers, bioprocess engineers, and GFI scientists with direct bearing on S1 topics. Gene editing regulatory context is also on the S1 discussion agenda. Overall session start/end times aim to be precise so participants can join the sessions most relevant to them; within-session timings will be firmed up closer to the date. See the About page for the full participant list.

Discussion questions

S1 is focused on the engineering and science: what is technically and scientifically viable, and what are the key units and parameters in the model. Real-world cost implications and industry benchmarks are covered more in S2.

What is the current state of hydrolysate-based media substitution, and how likely is it to succeed by 2036? What are the main barriers: technical, regulatory, or otherwise? (CM_12)
What cell densities are realistically achievable in a 20,000-liter bioreactor by 2036, and what is the binding constraint: oxygen transfer, shear stress, or something else? (CM_16)
How does process choice (fed-batch vs perfusionContinuous media exchange with cell retention; cells harvested at end of run. Higher cell densities but also higher media throughput. vs continuous harvesting) change the technical picture, and which approach seems most likely to be adopted at commercial scale? [model]See the cost model for detailed explainers on process choices and their cost implications.
Cell line technologyCovers immortalized cell lines (indefinite proliferation without animal serum), gene-edited lines (engineered to produce growth factors internally or require less external input), and other genetic modifications affecting growth efficiency and media requirements.: what is the realistic timeline for commercial adoption of gene-edited lines, and does gene editing eliminate growth factor dependence or merely reduce it? How do regulatory requirements for gene-edited lines interact with cost projections and production timelines?
What is the probability of commercially viable CM production by 2036, and what are the main barriers — technical, regulatory, and commercial? How do these barriers translate into cost model inputs?
Growth factor cost trajectories: what reductions are scientifically plausible over the next 10 years, and what would drive them?

This list is not comprehensive — other technically-relevant topics (e.g., bioreactor size, cost of capital, specific cell line approaches) are also welcome.

12:10–12:25 ET ~5 min: beliefs form orientation (brief overview + Q&A on the form) · then ~10 min break — a good moment to open the beliefs form and have a look

12:25–13:35 ET
18:25–19:35 CET · 5:25–6:35pm UK S2 · Scale-up & Industry Realities Internal · Off-recordNo recording. Nothing from S2 will be shared outside the participant group unless you explicitly ask us to share something you contributed. If you'd like your slides, a key point, or your own recorded version shared more widely, just let us know — opt-in sharing is welcome.

The gap between TEA models and what operators actually see. CDMOContract Development and Manufacturing Organization — a company that manufactures biotech products on behalf of other firms. Many CM companies are likely to produce via CDMOs before building own plants, making CDMO cost structures an important near-term benchmark. economics, real cost benchmarks, and lessons from recent industry developments. This session is off-record to reduce barriers to frank exchange — participants may still have business or IP sensitivities, and there is no formal NDA, but we hope the format encourages more open conversation.

What we hope to learn in S2

This session informs the pivotal questions work more broadly — not just what The Unjournal should evaluate, but what questions to refine and prioritize, what research to evaluate, and what specialists should be asked. The goal is to help funders, researchers, and evaluators understand where the real uncertainties lie.

What do industry cost benchmarks actually look like: CDMOContract Development and Manufacturing Organization — a company that provides manufacturing services to CM companies on a contract basis. costs (€/week), freeze-drying (€/kg), fermentation at 100kL scale? Where do academic TEAs diverge from operator experience?
What should we make of the gap between published TEA projections and commercial viability (cf. Believer Meats' shutdown despite favorable cost projections)?
Near-term production context: given that many CM companies will use CDMOs before building own plants, how should we think about near-term cost structures? This is important context, but we aim to cover dedicated factory scenarios equally — the workshop is not CDMO-anchored. What does the viable long-run end state look like?
Which claims from S1 resonate with industry experience, and which don't? Where might the models be over- or underweighting specific bottlenecks? Industry participants bring ground-level knowledge of what's proving genuinely hard or easy.
What research gaps, if filled, would most change cost projections or investment decisions?

Why this session is off the record — and what will be shared

Several industry participants have indicated they are only comfortable contributing candidly if the session is not recorded or shared externally. To ensure we get the most honest and useful input — rather than polished, attribution-conscious answers — S2 is fully internal.

What will be shared: an internal-only notes summary will be written up and shared with all registered participants (including those who couldn't attend live) within a few days. Nothing from S2 will be shared beyond the participant group unless a contributor explicitly asks us to.

Opt-in sharing: if you'd like something you contributed shared more widely — your slides, a key finding, or your own recorded version of your remarks — just let us know and we'll make it happen. Opt-in covers your own contributions only; if your remarks reference other participants' comments, those individuals would also need to approve before anything is shared. You can also record your own presentation separately (just you, no other participants' audio) and share it on our channel; ask us if you'd like guidance on this.

13:35–13:50 ET ~5 min: beliefs form orientation (brief overview + Q&A on the form) · then ~10 min break — a good moment to open the beliefs form and have a look

13:50–15:00 ET
19:50–21:00 CET · 6:50–8pm UK S3 · Synthesis · AW Funding · Next Steps Public then off-record

13:50–14:35 · Public · Recorded (same sharing rules as S1 — opt-out available on request)

Pulling together the day's cruxes: where do participants agree and disagree, and what would change minds? Live poll on CM_01 median cost estimate. Animal welfare funding implications: how should CM's cost trajectory affect AW portfolio decisions? (CM_10/11). Key research gaps and follow-up.

Bioreactors: what scale and configuration is most plausible by 2036, and what would change the outlook?
Cell density: how far is the field from the densities required for commercially viable production?
Gene-edited cell lines: when might they become commercially significant, and what difference would that make?
Where do S1 and S2 participants most agree and disagree on the cost picture?
What research, data, or expert input would most reduce remaining uncertainty?

14:35–15:00 · Off-record (same sharing rules as S2 — no recording, no external sharing without contributor approval)

Open discussion: how does today's evidence affect views on CM research priorities and funding decisions? What follow-up from this workshop would be most valuable — for the PQ initiative, for funders, for future collaborations? Participants are encouraged to speak openly, but natural sensitivities around business interests and IP are understood; there is no formal NDA.

Beliefs elicitation — how it works

The beliefs form is at uj-cm-workshop.netlify.app/beliefs.html. A short pre-workshop version goes out ~May 1. The in-workshop portion is lightweight: we'll orient you to the form at the breaks, and ask for a live response on CM_01 (the focal cost question) and one or two subquestions.

A post-workshop beliefs update will go out after the workshop — the exact format, timing, and what will be shared and when are still being refined and finalized. You'll see your pre-workshop responses and can update them in light of the discussion; the shift (or lack of shift) is itself a useful data point.

Individual responses are kept confidential by default. The attribution policy — what is shared, with whom, and under what conditions — is being carefully considered and will be communicated clearly before the workshop. Aggregated distributions and key themes may be published; individual responses will not be attributed without explicit permission.

Modeling Hack session — Several participants indicated interest in a hands-on cost modeling session. This is planned as a separate event on a later date, not part of the May 8 workshop. We'll circulate details after May 8 once the main workshop is complete.

Async participation: You can engage meaningfully without attending live. A pre-workshop beliefs form goes out ~May 1. After the workshop we'll share notes, slides, and (for the public sessions) a recording and transcript. A combined feedback + beliefs survey goes out ~May 11. All registered participants receive these materials regardless of live attendance.

Agenda still being finalized — the three-session structure is confirmed, and overall session start/end times are fixed so participants can join the sessions most relevant to them. Within-session timings are approximate and will shift as the programme takes shape; we'll firm up the internal timeline closer to the date. Session content, presentations, and discussion framing are still coming together. Check back for updates.