Cocuus, a Spanish food technology company specializing in large-scale production of 3D-printed plant-based foods, has announced an ambitious target for 2024: manufacturing 1,000 tonnes of 3D-printed plant-based bacon. In light of the projected growth of the global alternative proteins market to reach at least $290 billion by 2035, as forecasted by BCG and the Blue Horizon Corporation, Cocuus aims to expedite the production of 3D-printed plant-based bacon for distribution in retail and other outlets. Key investors, including Cargill and Big Idea Ventures, are set to support Cocuus in its efforts to mass-produce plant-based foods.
In the preceding year, Cocuus, in collaboration with partner company Foody’s, inaugurated what they claimed to be the world’s first industrial-scale facility for 3D-printed plant-based meat in Northern Spain. Equipped with Cocuus’ advanced printing technology, this facility boasts a machine capable of producing 250 kilos of plant-based bacon per hour. Following this facility’s introduction, the partnership achieved initial retail success by launching its first product, plant-based bacon, in over 400 Carrefour supermarkets under the Foody’s brand. This bacon, recognized as a finalist in the international V-Label awards, contains less than 10% vegetable fat and is free from major allergens like gluten and soy.
Cocuus Founder and CEO, Patxi Larumbre, emphasized the significant advantage of their technology, stating that they achieve in 5 minutes what two pigs do in a lifetime, offering a solution to the global protein shortage. Additionally, Cocuus revealed plans to expand its production capacity to include large-scale vegan tuna and shrimp production, with ambitions to commercialize various other plant-based products such as salmon and octopus. In addition to plant-based items, Cocuus is exploring methods to repurpose meat off-cuts and trimmings using 3D printing to create high-quality prime cuts.
The strategic partnership formed between Cargill and Cocuus in the summer of 2022 has played a crucial role in driving innovation in alternative proteins and specialized nutrition. Cocuus, which was established in Pamplona, Spain, in 2017, has secured $8.8 million in capital and financing from investors such as Big Idea Ventures, food-tech accelerator Eatable Adventures, and meat giant Cargill, supporting various stages of the company’s growth, including funding for the construction of the new facility. Larrumbe, the CEO of Cocuus, views reaching industrial scale as a significant milestone resulting from years of research and development, guided by industry leaders such as Cargill, and envisions the new facility as just the beginning of their efforts in mass-producing flavorful and nutritious alternative proteins essential for food security and environmental sustainability.
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