What is cultured meat? Thanks for asking!

The world’s ever-growing human population is eating meat in greater quantities than ever before. Yet at the same time, we’re also increasingly conscious of the environmental impact, as well as ethical issues around animal slaughter. 

So imagine if you could eat meat without any animals being harmed, and with 96% less greenhouse gas emissions! Well, that is actually possible with cultured meat, which is grown via cell culture in a lab rather than from an animal. It’s also been described as “clean meat”, due to its perceived benefits, but this term has been criticised for not being neutral enough. 

So how is cultured meat actually made?

Firstly, you take tissue cells from an animal and isolate them so they can grow in-vitro in perfect lab conditions. To do this, they need warmth and oxygen, as well as to be fed with salt, sugar and protein. The cells are effectively tricked into thinking they are still inside the animal they have come from. This enables them to grow and become food. 

With this alternative solution, there’s no need to raise and slaughter animals. Energy costs could be cut by up to 45%, with water consumption and greenhouse gas emissions dropping by a massive 96%. Considering that livestock farming accounts for a sixth of global emissions, that would make a huge difference.

The world’s first cultured hamburger was introduced in London in 2013, by Pr Mark Post. His team from Maastricht University spent 2 years and $300,000 creating the 5-oz Frankenburger. 

Since then, famous names including Bill Gates and Leonardo Di Caprio have invested in cultured meat companies, which aim to bring the phenomenon to the mainstream. By next year, cultured meat could be available at the same price as traditionally farmed meat.

Great, what are we waiting for then? Why aren’t we all already eating cultured meat? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

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