Professor Jinkee Hong of Yonsei University in Seoul, who led the research, said it uses grain particles as the base for cultivating animal muscle and fat cells.
South Korean researchers have grown beef cells in rice grains in what they say is a major step towards achieving a sustainable, affordable and environmentally friendly source of protein that could replace farmed cattle for meat.Matter
In the research, rice grains were treated with enzymes to create an optimal environment for cell growth, then infused with bovine cells that were cultivated to achieve the final hybrid product, which resembles a pinkish grain of rice. Hong’s team said rice had an advantage in terms of safety relative to soy or nuts because fewer people were allergic to it.
The beef rice contains approximately 8 per cent more protein and 7 per cent more fat than conventional rice. Hong noted the protein was 18 per cent animal-based, making it a rich source of essential amino acids.