Quotes from Tufts Now, January 10, 2024
By Sara Norberg
Students in a biomedical engineering course are encouraged to tackle pressing issues in the field through a final project inspired by ABC’s Shark Tank.
Envision a future where meat is grown from cells instead of animals, allowing us to continue enjoying traditional animal-sourced foods like beef, chicken, and fish. Cellular agriculture aims to satisfy the need for healthy animal protein while simultaneously working towards a more secure, sustainable, and equitable food system, in contrast to the traditional approach of whole animal production.
However, it is important to note that the promise of cellular agriculture, while exciting, is not without its fair share of obstacles. This was precisely the assignment given to students in the Cellular Agriculture & Biofabricated Foods class during the past semester – to address and resolve some of these challenges.
The Biomedical Engineering department at the School of Engineering offers a course called BME173, where students participate in “Pork Tank” for their final project.
BME173 students adopt a Shark Tank-style format to showcase their startup ideas addressing pressing concerns in cellular agriculture. Their presentations are supported by thorough research, competitor analysis, marketing strategies, and a timeline for development, FDA approval, and production scaling.
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