USM PENANG, 21 April 2025 – The International Seminar on Cultured Meat (Hybrid Mode), jointly organised by Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) and The University of Osaka ASEAN Campus, was held at The University of Osaka ASEAN Campus Office, Toray Building, here, bringing together over 150 participants from across Asia-Pacific.

Themed “Cultured Meat as a Future Food: Paving the Way Towards a Sustainable Future,” the seminar was conducted under the exchange framework of The University of Osaka ASEAN Campus SDGs Co-Creation Forum: Halal Innovation, with the goal of exploring cultivated meat as a future-ready solution aligned with sustainability, food security, and religious compliance.

The seminar was led by the School of Industrial Technology, as the main organiser, in collaboration with the School of Materials and Mineral Resources Engineering and the Research Creativity and Management Office (RCMO), showcasing the commitment by USM towards interdisciplinary and strategic partnerships in advancing cultured meat research and innovation.

Delivering welcoming remarks, Vice-Chair of The University of Osaka Asean Campus SDGs Co-Creation Forum and Co-Chairperson of the event, Professor Dr. Quamrul Hasan highlighted the strong academic ties between Malaysia and Japan, and the value of collaborative discourse in shaping future food ecosystems.

The half-day programme featured five invited talks, representing expertise across science & technology, Halal innovation, policy, and industry:

1. Prof. Dr. Michiya Matsusaki (The University of Osaka); Title: Advancing Cultivated Wagyu Meat Production through 3D Bioprinting and Tissue Engineering.
2. Mr. Jason Ng Chin Aik (Cell AgriTech Sdn. Bhd.); Title: Driving Commercial Innovation in Cultured Meat: Industry Insights.
3. Dr. Mohammad Naqib Hamdan (Universiti Teknologi Malaysia); Title: Cultured Meat from an Islamic Perspective.
4. Dr. Rufaihah Abdul Jalil (Temasek Polytechnic, Singapore); Title: Halal Cultivated Meat - Navigating Technical and Social Challenges for the Future of Alternative Protein.
5. Dr. Dean Powell & Mr. Ankur Chaudhary (The Good Food Institute APAC); Title: Navigating the Regulatory Landscape for Cultured Meat in Asia-Pacific - Challenges and Opportunities.

Moderated by Seminar Co-Chairperson and Head of the USM Cultured Meat Research Group, Dr. Mohamad Hafizi Abu Bakar, the seminar featured engaging discussions on cultured meat innovation, Islamic jurisprudence, commercial readiness, and regional regulatory preparedness.

In the closing address, Director of RCMO, Professor Dr. Zainovia Lockman underscored the significance of Halal assurance, ethical stewardship, and inclusive policy in the development of sustainable food systems.

“We must ensure that science and cultural values move forward together in this new paradigm of food innovation,” she noted.

The seminar also highlighted Malaysia’s National Cultured Meat Feasibility Study, conducted under the Ministry of Economy High Impact Short-Term Grant and comprising researchers from Universiti Putra Malaysia, USM, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Taylor’s University, several ministries and Cell AgriTech Sdn. Bhd.

A follow-up facility site visit and collaborative roundtable were held in the afternoon at Cell AgriTech Sdn. Bhd. in Seberang Jaya, Penang where industry-academia partnerships were further explored.

The event’s hybrid format allowed for regional participation, with attendees coming from Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Australia, India, United Kingdom and other parts of Southeast Asia.

Participants included stakeholders from universities, food-tech startups, Halal certification bodies, and regulatory agencies.

Text & Photos: Dr. Mohamad Hafizi Abu Bakar, School of Industrial Technology, USM