To understand the potential of future meat alternatives, Nestlé is closely monitoring scientific trends and exploring emerging technologies. 

The company is evaluating innovative technologies to produce cultured meat or cultured-meat ingredients with several external partners and start-ups. These technologies can lead to more environmentally friendly products.

For example, scientists at Nestlé Research in Lausanne are working with Future Meat Technologies, a leading cultured-meat start-up, to explore the potential of cultured-meat components that do not compromise on taste or sustainability. Future Meat Technologies' novel and cost-efficient proprietary technology can produce non-GMO cultured-meat components from animal cells, reducing the need for land and resources to raise animals.

"For many years we have been investing in our protein expertise and the development of proprietary technologies for plant-based meat alternatives, allowing us to continuously expand our wide range of tasty and nutritious products with a lower environmental impact," said Reinhard Behringer, head of the Nestlé Institute of Material Sciences at Nestlé. "To complement these efforts, we’re also exploring technologies that could lead to animal-friendly alternatives that are nutritious, sustainable, and close to meat in terms of taste, flavor, and texture. We are excited to understand their potential."

People are increasingly reducing or eliminating animal products from their diet for many reasons, leading to the rapid growth of plant-based meat and dairy alternatives. Providing people with delicious, nutritious, and sustainable plant-based products is a priority for Nestlé.