Future farmer (+ video): Parinith Sudhakar, Bioprocess Engineer

We’re excited to share a portrait video of future farmer Parinith Sudhakar, Junior Scientist in our Bioprocess Team. Read our interview with him below.

Where did you grow up, Parinith?

I grew up attending a boarding school in the Western Ghats, India, in a thick forest surrounded by coffee plantations. My school had a focus on all-round learning, not just coursework but learning from nature, sports and the arts.  

When I was in second or third grade, I very fondly remember being introduced to the basics of science. Our teacher showed us how a seed was sown and germinated. It was phenomenal to see how the seed transformed. I witnessed hundreds of seeds sown in a small plot and growing into bushes.

Whenever I went home for vacation, I would ask my mom to help me plant ten different kinds of seeds and watch them grow into different crops. This influenced me to learn more about biology in general. Science taught me how to relate to things in nature and admire them.

How did that love of science and nature translate into your next steps?

When I was in Grade 11, I was introduced to bioprocessing for the first time – the field where biology and engineering combine to design processes to manufacture bioproducts [products made from renewable organic material]. I was also studying physics and other sciences in parallel. 

Therefore, I decided to study biotechnology in University. I did my Bachelors degree in Biotechnology at PES University in Bangalore, India and my Masters degree in Industrial Biotechnology at KTH University (Royal Institute of Technology) in Stockholm.

I had read about cultured meat on LinkedIn, but didn’t know how mature these companies were. I started conversations with a few cultured meat companies, and I then received the offer from Mosa Meat!

Would you describe yourself as a future farmer?

The term future farmer really speaks to me. This is exactly what we are doing here. Just as on a farm we sow seeds, grow them, and then we eat – here we start with very few cells, and cultivate them in a bioreactor to increase the yield.

Ultimately, I believe we can feed the world with this. 

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

I enjoy reading and sports. I regularly play tennis at a nearby sports club nearby. I also like to spend time with colleagues in evenings after work. We play cards, and just hang out – we are very supportive of one another.

What motivates and inspires you the most about working at Mosa Meat?

The challenge is what motivates me; the fact that it’s not easy to do this is why I want to succeed.

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