Strategic collaboration to advance cell-based coffee manufacturing in Mexico
Key takeaways
- Pluri’s subsidiary Coffeesai has formed a strategic partnership with INCAFECH to advance cell-based coffee production in Chiapas.
- Using Coffeesai’s biotech platform, the initiative will establish coffee cell lines, pilot biofarming with 3D bioreactors, and explore full-scale manufacturing.
- The partnership targets scalable, cost-effective solutions that support local farmers, and reduce the environmental impact of traditional coffee farming.
Pluri cell-based coffee subsidiary, Coffeesai, has joined forces with the Instituto del Café de Chiapas (INCAFECH), a public body of the State of Chiapas, Mexico, to advance cell-based coffee production. The company is poised to transform the future of coffee by pioneering cell-based coffee solutions resilient to climate change, land constraints, and market volatility.
Coffeesai will establish coffee cell lines, develop pilot-scale biofarming in Chiapas, and evaluate commercial manufacturing.
The company is geared toward developing climate-resilient, land-independent coffee that delivers consistent quality and sustainability by leveraging its cutting-edge biotech in one of the world’s key coffee regions.
Mitigating deforestation
Coffeesai believes cell-based coffee could redefine how the world produces one of the most popular global beverages, without deforestation, pesticides, or supply volatility.
The global coffee market is projected to exceed US$350 billion by 2030 (CAGR 5.3% from 2025 to 2030), creating a significant opportunity for scalable, cost-competitive production.
Pluri is a biotechnology company leveraging its proprietary platform for cell-based solutions through a collaborative network of ventures.
Pilot-scale biofarming
Coffeesai has signed a deal with INCAFECH that prioritizes advancing coffee production, supporting local farmers, and fostering innovation. Chiapas produces more than 40% of Mexico’s coffee.
Under the collaboration agreement, the parties aim to progress along a three-phase roadmap designed to de-risk commercialization.
They will establish a bank of coffee cell lines using Coffeesai’s technology and deploy Coffeesai’s 3D bioreactor in Chiapas to validate scalability and process robustness. Then, they will explore full-scale facilities for industrial production.
Why Chiapas?
Chiapas is Mexico’s leading coffee-growing region. Pluri believes that establishing operations in Chiapas positions the state as a hub for cell-based coffee innovation, while tapping into the deep local coffee traditions.
The region is also beneficial because it supports sustainable growth.
“The State of Chiapas has always been a leader in coffee production, and now we aim to lead in coffee innovation,” says Jorge Baldemar Utrilla Robles, director of the INCAFECH.
“By partnering with Coffeesai and Pluri, we are bringing cutting-edge biotechnology to our region, strengthening our farmers’ future, creating jobs, and positioning Chiapas as a global reference point for the future of coffee.”
“Coffeesai is ready to execute,” adds Ami Herman, Coffeesai CEO. “We will immediately begin phase one by establishing and validating cell lines in Chiapas, followed by pilot-scale deployment of our bioreactors. Each milestone brings us closer to a commercial model that establishes Coffeesai as a leader in sustainable coffee production.”
