Each sector of the food and beverage industry has its own on-the-job jargon and vocabulary. Here’s some of the terminology you may be questioning when it comes to the cellular food and agriculture sector.
Acellular: Containing no cells. Precision fermentation is an acellular process.
Biomass: Biomass is renewable organic material that comes from plants and animals.
Biopsy: A sample of tissue taken in order to examine it more closely.
Bioreactor: A large stainless-steel tank which provides a constant, stable environment for the cells to flourish.
Cellular: Material consisting of cells.
Cultivated proteins: Another name for cellular protein.
Fractionating: Dividing a substance into its parts. , food processors take pulses, extract the protein, and leave high-quality starch which could have other applications.
Heme: An essential molecule that contains iron.
Immortalized cells: Cells that have been manipulated to multiply indefinitely and be cultured for long periods of time.
Genome Canada: An independent, federally funded not-for-profit organization that invests in and coordinates genomics research, innovation, data and talent.
Net zero: An economy that doesn’t create greenhouse gas emissions.
New Harvest: A global non-profit research institute advancing the science of cellular agriculture.
NRC IRAP: NRC IRAP offers small- and medium-sized Canadian businesses advice, access to connections, and funding to help them innovate and bring products to market.
NSERC: NSERC offers funding to entrepreneurs and innovators researching and developing scientific and technical breakthroughs that will benefit Canada.
Precision fermentation: This process uses cells from micro-organisms like yeast and bacteria to produce specific enzymes, fat, collagen, flavour molecules, vitamins or protein ingredients that are identical to animal proteins but which do not contain any living material in the final product.
Scaffolding: A material that provides the structural support for cell attachment and tissue development.
Serum: Liquid medium that provides all the nutrients needed to thrive.