Project on in vitro meat completed

On behalf of the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), an ITAS team researched the technical and social aspects and concepts of in vitro meat over a period of two years. The results are now available.
In vitro meat: Possible solution for ecological and ethical problems of meat consumption (David Parry / PA Wire)

Right now, it can only be produced in a lab in a very complex process and minute quantities. But in the future, in vitro meat could help to solve the problems caused by our meat consumption in view of a growing world population, climate change, and animal welfare: The cultivation of animal muscle stem cells in a cell culture would eliminate the need to rear the animals in a resource-intensive process and then to kill them. In the BMBF project “Visions of in vitro meat” (VIF) the ITAS experts analyzed the scientific, technological, societal, cultural, and political aspects of this new technology’s visions and concepts.

Unresolved technological and ethical issues

As an innovation, in vitro meat has recently experienced a rapid development and received considerable media attention. Scientists involved in the research predict that the technology will soon be ready for the market; however, there are still some technological problems to be solved, like finding a suitable and cost-effective non-animal culture medium for cell cultures. Ecological advantages and some ethical aspects of in vitro meat, for example regarding the fair access to this innovation, are also debatable. In addition, the development of in vitro meat raises questions regarding the future treatment of animals and the significance of meat for our diet.

Ideas about the desirability and possible forms of a future society with in vitro meat were analyzed by the ITAS researchers based on the latest literature and interviews. Interviewees were experts from different scientific domains as well as representatives of environment and animal rights organizations, ecologic and conventional farming associations, system gastronomy and politics. Citizens were also able to participate directly in focus groups and a citizens’ jury.

Discourse on meat consumption is needed

The majority of the interviewees considered in vitro meat as an alternative to conventional meat products. At the same time, those who saw the future of food in the reduction of meat consumption and the ecological conversion of agriculture objected in vitro meat. Other reasons mentioned for seeing in vitro meat critically are the possible estrangement of the human being from animals and the danger of a monopolization of in vitro meat production. However, all of those who were interviewed by the scientists agreed that the innovation should be included in a broad discourse on ecological, social, and ethical problems of meat consumption.

The major part of society wishes, following scientific data, that politicians develop strategies to push the rapid reduction of meat consumption and the sustainable conversion of agriculture and promote research and development of plant-based alternatives. (13.10.2017)

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