Press Announcement

Biokraft Foods to Host the First-Ever Great Indian Cultivated Chicken Cook-Off

● India’s first cultivated chicken cook-off, hosted by Biokraft Foods, will see a grand finale on 22 August 2025 at DY Patil University, Navi Mumbai, bringing together top student chefs from leading hospitality institutes.

● The groundbreaking culinary event will feature Biokraft’s cultivated chicken as the hero ingredient.

● The finale will also include Forkward, a series of expert-led panel discussions exploring the future of food, ethics, and innovation.

Biokraft Foods, India’s pioneering cultivated meat company, is proud to announce the Grand Finale of The Great Indian Cultivated Chicken Cook-Off, taking place on 22 August 2025 at DY Patil University, School of Hospitality and Tourism Studies, Navi Mumbai.

This event marks India’s first culinary competition focused entirely on sustainable and ethical food innovation using cultivated chicken meat. Ten talented student chefs from top hospitality and culinary institutes have earned their place in the finale through internal qualifiers held at their respective campuses.They will go head-to-head in the grand finale, competing live and creating original dishes that will spotlight Biokraft Foods’ cultivated chicken meat.

The competition is centered to nurture innovation, technical precision, and mindful cooking among the next generation of chefs. The entries will be evaluated by the judging partner, the Western India Culinary Association (WICA), whose panel brings extensive culinary expertise and professional insight. Winners will receive cash prizes and an exclusive opportunity to visit the Merck Life Science facility in Bangalore.

“It is a step toward a better food system and an exciting opportunity for young chefs to work with next-gen ingredients,” said Kamalnayan Tibrewal, Founder of Biokraft Foods. “As the food industry faces shifting consumer expectations and the need for innovation and sustainability on every plate, cultivated chicken meat offers a chance to rethink what is possible. This competition is about preparing the next generation of chefs to engage with new ingredients, understand the science, and stay ahead of what diners will be asking for in the near future.”

Forkward – A Platform for Honest Food Dialogue

Alongside the Cook-Off, Biokraft Foods is hosting Forkward, a dynamic series of panel discussions on the future of food. Featuring prominent guest speakers and expert moderators, the Forkward panel session will see a meaningful collaboration and insight across science, industry, policy, and the culinary world, encouraging practical dialogue around the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of food in India.

Panel themes include:

Panel 1 – Food with a Conscience

Theme: Meat, Morals & the Mission: Reimagining Protein for People & Planet.

How can cultivated meat serve the planet, animals, and people all at once? This panel also explores the mission-driven role of NGOs in building a better food future, through equity, ethics, and impact.

Panel 2 – The Food Tech Frontier

Theme: Science, Safety & the Future of What We Eat.

This session will address the balance between innovation and consumer trust, touching on themes like food safety, labeling, transparency, scale and consumer perception.

Panel 3 – Plating the Possible

Theme: The Future of Dining.

As cultivated meat moves from lab to table and traditional ingredients find new meaning on modern menus, this panel explores how chefs, food entrepreneurs, and culinary partners are rethinking what we eat and what trends will shape the dining experience of tomorrow.

Register here for the Forkward panel discussions: https://forms.gle/AnMhNweBhtQNbrPd6

Partners Powering the Movement

A strong network of partners across innovation, media, education, and sustainability supports the Great Indian Cultivated Chicken Cook-Off. DY Patil University, School of Hospitality and Tourism Studies is the official venue partner for the Grand Finale, with Nufoods Spectrum as media partner, Amerging Technologies as technical partner, Equinox Labs as testing partner, and Humane World for Animals India as supporting partner. Merck joins as innovation prize partner, and the Good Food Institute India as the knowledge partner for the grand finale.

On the ingredient side, Naagin is the official brand and ingredient partner, joined by Chives and TWF Flours as additional ingredient partners. Polka Pop adds a refreshing touch as the official beverage partner.

The event is further supported by a diverse set of ecosystem partners, including:

People for Animals Public Policy Foundation, Chamber for Advancement of Small and Medium Businesses (CASMB), Association of Food Scientists & Technologists (India) Mumbai Chapter, Freeze Fusion Foods, Chef’s Table Studio, and YODA.

Each organization contributes expertise toward the shared goal of a more sustainable food future.

The Great Indian Cultivated Chicken Cook-Off brings together culinary talent, sustainability and scientific progress on a single platform, redefining what the future of food can look like for India’s chefs, diners, and food leaders.

Event Details Date: 22 August 2025

Time: 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM Venue: DY Patil University, School of Hospitality and Tourism Studies, Navi Mumbai

-END-

Press/Media Contact

Email: communication@biokraftfoods.com, admin@biokraftfoods.com

Social Media: https://in.linkedin.com/company/biokraft-foods

https://www.instagram.com/biokraftfoodsindia/?hl=en

https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/the-great-indian-cultivated-chicken-cook-off-giccc-25

About Biokraft Foods: Founded by Kamalnayan Tibrewal, Biokraft Foods is a Mumbai-based biotech startup at the intersection of food science, sustainability, and innovation. The company is among the first in India to develop cultivated chicken using advanced 3D bioprinting and tissue engineering, offering a real meat alternative without animal farming. This year, Biokraft also unveiled a cultivated trout fillet in collaboration with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research – Central Institute of Coldwater Fisheries Research (ICAR-CICFR).

For more information on Biokraft Foods, kindly refer Press Kit_Biokraft Foods

About The Great Indian Cultivated Chicken Cook-Off & Forkward: The Great Indian Cultivated Chicken Cook-Off (GICCC’25) is India’s first culinary competition dedicated entirely to cultivated chicken which will spotlight creativity, sustainability, and innovation on the plate.

Organised by Biokraft Foods, the competition will also feature Forkward, a three-part panel discussion series featuring thought leaders, chefs, scientists, and entrepreneurs. A thought-provoking afternoon where leaders from across the food ecosystem will come together for honest, solution-focused dialogue on the future of food ecosystems.

For more information on The Great Indian Cultivated Chicken Cook-Off and Forkward, read here: Event Brochure