Cultured Meat Revolution: Unveiling the Future of Sustainable Protein
As part of the Cultured Meat Revolution, it's early to fully assess the environmental impact, but indications show it's more eco-friendly than traditional meat production.
Cultured Meat Revolution Unveiling the Future of Sustainable Protein. This revolution is driven by leading companies like UPSIDE Foods and Mission Barns, who employ cutting-edge techniques to produce real meat from animal cells without traditional livestock raising, presenting an eco-friendly and ethical approach to protein production.”
On Wednesday, the Agriculture Department granted permission to California companies Upside Foods and Good Meat for the sale of their products. This marks a significant step forward for the cultured meat industry, as it gains recognition and approval from regulatory authorities.
Cultured Meat
Cultivated meat, also known as lab-grown meat, is an alternate protein that utilizes cutting-edge technology. It involves extracting cells from living animals and cultivating them outside the animal’s body to create real meat without the need for traditional livestock raising.
This process, known as cellular agriculture, isolates a few animal cells, which are then nurtured and multiplied in a controlled environment to grow into edible meat products which is why Cultivated meat is also called cell based meat.
This method offers a more sustainable and vegan-friendly approach to meat production as it eliminates the need for slaughtering animals. Consumers can enjoy the same delicious flavors in their favorite vegan dishes, while the process aligns with corporate innovation’s focus on sustainability and ethical practices in the food industry.
Check out : $635 million investment by global governments in alternative proteins
In 2013, Mark Post unveiled the world’s first cultured meat burger sources from The Verge. Since then, As per a report from Devdiscourse, over 150 companies worldwide are currently working on beef, chicken, pork, lamb, and exotic cell-based products, with a total investment of approximately USD 3 billion.
What drives the production of cell-cultured meat
Cultured meat is presented as a responsible alternative to meet the growing food demand, as Frontiers find the global population is expected to surpass 9 billion by 2050, necessitating 70% more food.
As meat consumption declines in developed countries but rises globally, there is a growing demand for sustainable solutions. Cultured meat emerges as a potential answer, offering a way to meet the increasing global demand for meat while easing the strain on the environment and resources linked to traditional livestock agriculture.
Creating a higher welfare, sustainable food system involves moving beyond Animal factory farms and reducing animal exploitation. Cultured meat offers a compassionate and eco-friendly alternative, paving the way for a humane future of food production.
The drivers for cultured meat are that animals are not slaughtered, there can be less land and water usage and less greenhouse gases are produced than conventional meat production, particularly from ruminants like cattle and sheep.
A lower manufacturing footprint is indeed a significant advantage, especially in the context of environmental sustainability. By shifting towards alternatives like cultured meat, we have the potential to reduce our ecological footprint and address some of the pressing environmental issues we face today. This concept aligns perfectly with the ethical beliefs and dietary choices of vegans, as many choose their diet not only for health reasons but also to minimize the suffering of animals.
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However, it’s important to note that cultured meat, despite its lower environmental impact, would not be considered vegan. A vegan diet, by definition, excludes the consumption of any form of animal products. Lab-grown meat requires animal cells as ingredients to produce synthetic meat, which means it involves the use of animal-derived components, making it non-vegan.
While cultured meat presents an intriguing opportunity for environmentally conscious individuals, including many vegans, to enjoy meat-like products without contributing to animal cruelty or exploitation, it falls short of meeting the strict criteria of a vegan diet.
How is Cultivated meat made?
The concept of cultured meat involves obtaining a biopsy from a living animal to collect selected individual cell types. These cells are then grown in large-scale bioreactors, utilizing various cell types such as muscle, fat, or fibroblasts, to produce cultured meat.
The process continues by placing these cells in petri dishes with amino acids and carbohydrates, facilitating their multiplication and growth into muscle fibers, ultimately resulting in a meat product that can be consumed.
As the technology advances and becomes more scalable, cultured meat has the potential to revolutionize the food industry and contribute to a more sustainable future.
How Cultured Meat is different from plant-based meat
Plant-based meat, with options like veggie burgers as a vegan alternative, has been available for decades, catering to vegetarian and vegan preferences.
Plant-based meat alternatives are often created using “high-moisture extrusion“, giving them a meat-like or seafood-esque texture. Nevertheless, they may not perfectly replicate the taste of animal meat.
These meat-like plant proteins serve as the foundation for various plant-based meat products, including The Vegetarian Butcher’s noChicken Burger patties, NoMeatball meatballs, and GoodDot’s UnMutton vegan meat. But These modern companies tries to achieve similar taste and texture to animal-based proteins, making their plant-based meat options suitable for vegans as part of their plant-based diet.
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Lab-grown or Cultivated meat provides the same nutrition and animal protein as conventionally produced meat, unlike plant-based alternatives made from non-meat ingredients like soya.
However, due to its reliance on animal muscle samples and stem cells, cultured meat is not a plant-based option suitable for vegans. It contains cells taken from real animals, making it non-vegan.
Government on Cultured Meat Revolution
The government’s intervention aims to boost the development and availability of alternative protein to traditional meat, including cultured meat, to provide compassionate options for consumers.
The first cultured meat products have been licensed in Singapore and the US, as reported by Bloomberg. It is anticipated that more regions will also follow suit.
On Wednesday, the Agriculture Department’s approval of California companies Upside Foods and Good Meat’s products marks a significant step forward for the cultured meat industry, gaining recognition and approval from regulatory authorities.
Global governments have invested $635 million in alternative proteins, emphasizing the need for increased funding in innovation, sustainability, and food security to unlock the industry’s full potential.
In April 2022, the Israel Innovation Authority granted $18 million for the “world’s largest” cultivated meat consortium, bringing together 14 companies and 10 universities for development, as reported by The Times of Israel.
Denmark is showcasing its commitment to sustainability and innovative agricultural practices by investing DKK 675 million ($99.4 million) in “The Plant Fund” to boost the growth of its plant-based food industry.
This campaign, launched by the Danish Agency for Agriculture, aims to uplift the growing plant-based market amid environmental urgency. It supports national brands like Dryk, Naturali, and Cavi-art as they expand internationally as per report The Beet.
As per Vegconomist Australia emerges as a leader in the plant-based protein industry, with significant investments of $1 million in facilities like Harvest B’s plant protein factory. The government’s commitment to innovation and sustainability is evident through this co-investment with the Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre (AMGC).
