With China including cultivated meat in its latest five-year agricultural plan, the United States should make sure it isn’t left behind by not investing heavily into cellular-agriculture development. For those who don’t know, cultivated meat is grown from animal cells, without slaughter. It’s better for animals, the environment and our health.
“This nationwide strategic initiative could accelerate the country’s regulatory timeline for cultivated meat, drive more research and investment into the alternative protein industry and fuel broader consumer acceptance of these products,” said Josh Tetrick, the CEO of food-technology company Eat Just. “In short, this is one of the most important policy actions in the history of alternative proteins.”
Our legislators should support increased federal funding for cultivated-meat research. This will help bring these revolutionary products to market faster at a competitive price compared with slaughtered meat. In order to reduce the suffering we inflict on animals, lower greenhouse-gas emissions, and minimize pandemic risk, we have to keep pace with China.
Jon Hochschartner