The Cultured Hub
Innovative efforts to shape the future of food have gained a heavyweight player. In December 2024, The Cultured Hub, a joint venture between Bühler, Givaudan, and Migros, was inaugurated in Kemptthal, Switzerland. This research and scale-up center is designed to support start-ups and established companies, transforming the food industry by accelerating the development and market penetration of cellular agriculture products.
Dalen Jacomino, June 2025
Science and technology play a pivotal role in transforming the food industry, improving food safety, nutritional quality, and sustainability. Research efforts in laboratories around the world are now rapidly translating into commercial food products at an unprecedented pace. The Cultured Hub is actively contributing to this transformation, with a clear mission: to support both start-ups and established companies in developing market-ready products, accelerating the path toward sustainable, healthy, and affordable food for all.
The Hub, which opened its doors in December 2024, offers a unique scale-up and growth service designed to help companies of all sizes advance their cultivated food processes. Through the Hub’s technology, companies can develop a diverse range of products, such as meat, fish, dairy, pet food, and plant-based cells like cocoa and coffee, as well as materials such as leather, cosmetics, and selective pharmaceutical applications.
Cellular agriculture involves producing animal-based foods and other products directly from animal cells. Originally pioneered in Europe and now utilized by over 100 companies worldwide, this technology enables the production of meat, fish, or dairy products grown in a controlled environment.
The production process relies on “cell culture technology”, which has been used in Europe for decades. For example, it has been used for growing yeast in bread baking or producing rennet for cheese. Starting with a small sample of animal cells, these are cultivated in a nutrient-rich medium, allowing the cells to grow and differentiate into muscle, fat, or other tissues, ultimately forming animal products.
Cultivated meat and other cellular agriculture products have the potential to dramatically reduce the environmental impact of food production, reduce the need for animal slaughter, and mitigate foodborne diseases, all while conserving water, land, and other resources. With the recent rise in prices of key commodities, such as cocoa and coffee, the ability to diversify processes and scale these products is becoming increasingly important.
The Cultured Hub covers an area of 1,600 square meters and can accommodate three companies working simultaneously, fostering an environment of collaboration and innovation. It features multiple production areas, an analytics suite, downstream processing systems for developing the finished product, a kitchen, and office space for start-ups. The Hub supports production from small-scale setups, like shake flasks, to 1,000-liter pilot operations, all without the burden of high investment in infrastructure or sacrificing valuable equity. This unparalleled capability bridges the critical gap between research and commercial production, enabling businesses to bring market-ready products to life more efficiently and affordably.
By offering scalable infrastructure for the development of sustainable food solutions, the Cultured Hub is addressing some of the most urgent challenges faced by global food systems.
Yannick Jones,
CEO of The Cultured Hub
By removing the barriers to large-scale production, companies can bring their innovations to market up to three years faster and at a fraction of the cost. This in turn, accelerates the transition toward a more sustainable and equitable food system.
“The opening of The Cultured Hub is a pivotal moment in the cellular agriculture and cultivated food industry. By offering scalable infrastructure for the development of sustainable food solutions, the Hub is addressing some of the most urgent challenges faced by global food systems, including environmental sustainability and food security,” says Yannick Jones, CEO of The Cultured Hub.
In addition to state-of-the-art cell culture and fermentation equipment, customers benefit from access to a diverse ecosystem of partners and the deep-rooted industry expertise of the three companies behind this pioneering joint venture: Bühler, Givaudan, and Migros. Each organization contributes with its own unique know-how and strengths.
Bühler brings its extensive knowledge in food processing and equipment to the table, enabling companies to scale up their production processes smoothly. Givaudan, a global leader in flavor and taste, ensures that these new, sustainable products not only meet the growing demand for more sustainable food but also deliver the same great taste consumers expect. Migros, with its deep understanding of retail and consumer needs, helps bridge the gap between innovation and market adoption, ensuring these products reach consumers at the right time and price.
With more than 30 start-ups and established companies expressing interest in the facility, the center is hitting the ground running. The facility is designed to host up to 50 companies annually, accommodating short- and long-term projects and providing room for expansion as the industry grows.
In a world filled with uncertainties, where the demands for food security and environmental responsibility are rapidly increasing, The Cultured Hub, together with its network of start-ups, established companies, and academic partners, can lead to tangible results. By meeting consumer needs, ensuring business efficiency, and addressing both environmental and ethical concerns, the Hub embodies the power of consistent execution. After all, it is not about having the perfect idea but about having a good idea and executing it consistently.
Who: The Cultured Hub
Where: Kemptthal, Zurich, Switzerland
When: Inaugurated in December 2024.
What: The Cultured Hub, a joint venture between Bühler, Givaudan, and Migros, is a pioneering scale-up and growth service facility dedicated to the cultivated food industry.
Customers: Equipped with a product development lab and cell culture and fermentation capabilities, The Cultured Hub enables companies to scale up from small-scale laboratory experiments (shake flask) to 1,000-liter pilot operations without the need for massive capital expenditures on building their own infrastructure.
Gupfenstrasse 5
Uzwil
9240
Switzerland
