Global Religious Recognition Accelerates Cell-Based Food Market Access

Groundbreaking Religious Ruling

South Korea’s premier Muslim organization has issued a fatwa declaring cultivated meat permissible under Islamic law when produced according to halal standards. The Korean Muslim Federation (KMF) made this historic announcement, becoming the world’s second religious authority to recognize cell-based meat as halal-compliant, following Singapore’s Islamic Religious Council precedent established last year.

This non-binding religious opinion based on Sharia principles provides crucial guidance for Muslims regarding foods not explicitly addressed in the Quran. The ruling represents a significant milestone for the global cultivated meat industry, potentially unlocking access to substantial Muslim consumer markets worldwide.

Strategic Partnership Development

Korean startup Simple Planet has positioned itself at the forefront of halal-certified cultivated meat production, pursuing certification that will benefit from this favorable ruling. The company specializes in protein powders plus unsaturated fatty acid pastes for cell-cultured products, maintaining 13 distinct animal cell lines including beef, pork, chicken, bluefin tuna, plus lobster varieties.

Simple Planet recently established a memorandum of understanding with Chulalongkorn University’s Halal Science Center in Thailand, integrating halal Good Manufacturing Practices into biotechnology-powered food solutions. Their collaboration encompasses resource-sharing, joint academic programs, industry seminars, student internships, faculty exchanges, plus cross-disciplinary research initiatives.

Innovation in Production Technology

The startup has developed an edible, serum-free culture medium utilizing probiotic-derived metabolites, establishing foundations for halal adherence while potentially reducing production costs by 99.8%. This breakthrough addresses both religious compliance requirements plus economic viability concerns that have challenged the cultivated meat sector.

CEO Dominic Jeong emphasized their mission: “Through developing cell-based ingredients safely supplied without environmental factor interference plus establishing sustainable food production systems, we enhance accessibility to cell-based foods, contribute to food security, plus help alleviate global hunger.”

Market Access Opportunities

The company has secured $7.5 million from private investors plus $8 million in government grants while pursuing regulatory approval in South Korea, which established safety frameworks for these products last year. Halal certification efforts will significantly expand their potential market reach once commercial operations commence.

Halal dietary requirements mandate specific animal slaughter methods while prohibiting certain meats plus byproducts including pork plus blood products. The KMF fatwa requires comprehensive production facility plus process inspections for final certification, creating clear pathways for local cultivated meat producers targeting Muslim consumers.

Global Market Implications

South Korea hosts approximately 200,000 Muslims, with 40% residing in Seoul according to KMF data. Globally, halal consumers represent 25% of the world population, with the halal meat market projected to grow 7% annually, reaching $1.6 trillion by 2032.

Industry recognition of this opportunity is evident: 2023 survey data from 44 companies revealed that 87% prioritized halal compliance requirements. However, resource limitations regarding religious certification adherence remain significant entry barriers for many producers.

International Religious Consensus

These fatwas build upon similar scholarly guidance from other regions. Saudi Arabian Shariah scholars advised Good Meat in 2023 that cultured chicken could be considered halal, while the Assembly of Muslim Jurists of America declared cultivated meat provisionally permissible in 2022, contingent upon halal criteria compliance.

Good Food Institute APAC Managing Director Mirte Gosker noted: “With over one billion people adhering to halal standards worldwide, cultivated meat requires viable certification pathways to transition from novelty to mainstream acceptance.”

Original Article:

Mridul, A. (2025, March 20). Korean Muslim Federation issues fatwa ruling cultivated meat as halal. Green Queen. https://www.greenqueen.com.hk/south-korean-muslim-federation-fatwa-lab-grown-cultivated-meat-halal/ (Retrieved September 22, 2025)