Lab-Grown Chicken: The Future of Meat?
The chicken before me had neither lived nor died, but it did look really tasty.
Five stories up, in a sunny event space tucked away in New York City’s Little Italy earlier this month, chefs had been busy preparing chicken lo mein noodles, empanadas, and shawarma. But the poultry that went into these dishes hadn’t come from a farm — it was grown from animal cells in a lab. Local restaurateurs and chefs mingling around the room had been invited to sample the dishes by Upside Foods, a leading brand in the lab-grown meat business. This was essentially a big pitch meeting: Upside Foods is working on launching a new product called “shreds” — similar to boneless, skinless, shredded chicken meat — and hoping to convince restaurants to buy it once it hits the market.
A few attendees, according to Upside Foods Chief Operating Officer Amy Chen, confessed they were nervous to try the lab-grown chicken, which is genetically identical to regular chicken but grown in a bioreactor. “I think for consumers, the idea of cultivated meat is quite different,” Chen said, using another term for lab-grown protein. “And it takes a minute for you to wrap your head around it. But I came from the food world, and I know that tasting is believing.”
And what tasting Upside Foods’ chicken will have you believe is that it is honest-to-god chicken. The chicken shawarma I tried was juicy and tender, with a taste and texture that were basically indistinguishable from the real thing. This could cut both ways: The breaded chicken strips atop the lo mein noodles tasted like, well, regular chicken tenders — totally average.
Upside Foods hopes its products will be the future of eating meat. But for all the company’s bullish messaging, an inconvenient detail hung over the showcase: Upside Foods has not yet received federal approval to sell its shredded chicken. And because President Donald Trump has nominated Robert F. Kennedy Jr. — a vocal critic of lab-grown meat — to lead the agency that oversees the Food and Drug Administration, no one knows what will happen to that clearance process now.
Kennedy has openly questioned the safety of lab-grown meat on X, formerly Twitter, calling it “ultra-processed.” Although he has not been confirmed to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, his nomination has been worrying for the U.S. lab-grown meat industry, which has yet to sell its goods in American supermarkets.
But experts say there may be a number of opportunities for lab-grown meat under a second Trump administration. Industry leaders argue that cultivated meat is good for business, consumers, and even national security — and certain high-profile Republicans agree.
The promise of lab-grown meat is that it would reduce our reliance on growing animals in factory-farming conditions, which pollute the air and waterways on top of emitting lots of greenhouse gases. Agriculture, by some estimates, accounts for up to a third of global greenhouse gas emissions. Within the agriculture category, livestock is the leading source of emissions. Scientists say it will be impossible to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) without reducing the emissions — particularly methane — that stem from industrial animal agriculture.
The problem is that studies suggest that today’s methods of producing cultivated meat have a higher environmental impact than that of beef. Advocates of cultivated meat say that the industry simply needs more investment to scale up and become energy-efficient.
Lab-grown meat falls into the “alternative protein” category, which includes plant-based burgers that bleed like real beef and has gotten heaps of attention from investors, nonprofits, and policymakers in recent years. That attention hasn’t always been good. Pitting lab-grown meat against farmers and the beef industry, Florida and Alabama preemptively banned the sale of cultivated meat last year. (Upside Foods sued the state of Florida in response, arguing its measure is unconstitutional.)
But industry leaders say they’re working on a feat of bioengineering that will put the United States ahead of other countries trying to grow their cultivated meat industries, such as Israel and Singapore.
“That’s something that I spend a lot of time talking about now: the economic potential of cultivated meat. How many jobs can we create?” said Suzi Gerber, head of the Association for Meat, Poultry, and Seafood Innovation, a cultured meat trade group. She noted that growing meat under laboratory conditions pulls in resources and workers from other fields: It requires agricultural and manufacturing expertise, and it will employ engineers and rely on farmers. Investing in lab-grown meat ensures “that American ingenuity is the front, that the American economy keeps evolving, and that we don’t fall behind the rest of the world and their bio-economies,” Gerber said.
These arguments have helped lab-grown meat attract supporters from areas not usually associated with vegan-friendly fares. Vivek Ramaswamy, the former Republican presidential candidate and Trump supporter, has come out in support of cultivated meat, saying it should ultimately be up to consumers to decide what they want to eat. Kimbal Musk, brother of Elon, is also an investor in Upside Foods. Kimbal Musk, brother of Elon Musk, has made a name for himself as a centrist Democrat who occasionally votes Republican. He has been vocal about his dislike for former President Trump but has also been described as a close confidante of Elon Musk and serves on the board of Tesla. Despite his political leanings, Kimbal has navigated the political landscape to further his interests in the food industry.
One of Kimbal’s ventures, Upside Foods, has made strides in the cultivated meat industry. Under Trump’s first term, the company went through the FDA’s pre-market consultation process for its chicken filet product. Despite the slow rollout, Upside Foods received clearance from the FDA in 2022 and approval from the Department of Agriculture in 2023. This process taught the company valuable lessons and positioned them for future success.
Eric Schulze, a veteran in the cultivated meat space, led Upside Foods’ regulatory strategy during this time. Schulze worked with the Trump administration and found it to be a beneficial relationship. He emphasized the pro-business argument for fake meat, advocating for fair competition in the market. Schulze noted that cultivated meat wasn’t as politicized under Trump as expected, with agencies showing a willingness to embrace innovation in alternative proteins.
While the regulatory process determines which products can be sold in the US, cultivated meat companies can find support at the state and federal levels. Federal programs like the Small Business Innovation Research program and state initiatives like Illinois’ Alternative Protein Innovation Task Force and California’s research funding provide resources for companies in the alternative protein sector.
The Biden administration has also opened up funding streams for alternative protein companies through the Department of Energy, aiming to decarbonize the agricultural industry. Despite government interest in supporting alternative proteins, there have been challenges, such as blowback from the livestock industry. The Defense Department faced criticism for engaging with the cultivated meat industry, highlighting the complexities of government involvement in alternative proteins.
Overall, Kimbal Musk’s dual role as a political centrist and food industry entrepreneur showcases the intersection of business, politics, and innovation. As the cultivated meat industry continues to evolve, navigating the regulatory landscape and government support will be crucial for companies like Upside Foods to succeed. The future of the cultivated meat industry is facing uncertainty as the Trump administration attempts to put an end to federal grant programs. This move has sent shockwaves through the industry, leaving companies scrambling to find alternative sources of funding. With Republicans in Congress vowing to fight against including cultivated meat in the upcoming Farm Bill, the road ahead looks rocky for these innovative companies.
Cultivated meat companies are now beefing up their lobbying efforts in hopes of securing a place in the Farm Bill. They are also exploring other avenues for financial support to keep their operations running smoothly. However, the opposition from Republicans in Congress poses a significant challenge to their efforts.
The question of whether people can change their minds about what food they like is at the forefront of this debate. Many who have tried lab-grown chicken for the first time have been surprised by how similar it tastes to traditional chicken. It’s a testament to the advancements in food technology that have made cultivated meat a viable alternative to traditional animal products.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a prominent figure in the environmental and health advocacy space, has been skeptical of cultivated meat in the past. However, experts believe that with the right information and evidence, he may be open to changing his stance on the matter. It remains to be seen how the second Trump administration will handle the growing pains of the cultivated meat industry and whether they will prioritize innovation and sustainability in the food sector.
Overall, the future of the cultivated meat industry hangs in the balance as political forces clash over its place in the agricultural landscape. The outcome of these debates will have far-reaching implications for the future of food production and consumption. Only time will tell how this industry will evolve in the face of adversity. The world of technology is constantly evolving, and with it comes new and exciting advancements that push the boundaries of what we thought was possible. One such advancement that has been making waves in recent years is the development of artificial intelligence (AI). AI is a branch of computer science that aims to create intelligent machines that can perform tasks that typically require human intelligence, such as visual perception, speech recognition, decision-making, and language translation.
One of the key areas where AI has seen significant growth and potential is in the field of robotics. Robots are no longer just clunky machines that perform repetitive tasks on factory floors. With the integration of AI technology, robots are becoming more sophisticated and capable of performing complex tasks in a variety of industries.
In the healthcare industry, AI-powered robots are being used to assist doctors and surgeons in performing delicate procedures with precision and accuracy. These robots are equipped with sensors and cameras that allow them to navigate through the human body with ease, providing real-time feedback to the medical professionals overseeing the procedure. This not only reduces the risk of human error but also allows for quicker recovery times for patients.
In the field of agriculture, AI-powered robots are revolutionizing the way crops are grown and harvested. These robots are equipped with sensors that can analyze soil conditions, monitor plant health, and even detect pests and diseases. By using this data, farmers can make more informed decisions about when to water, fertilize, and harvest their crops, leading to higher yields and more sustainable farming practices.
AI-powered robots are also being used in the manufacturing industry to streamline production processes and increase efficiency. These robots can work alongside human workers on the factory floor, performing tasks that are too dangerous or repetitive for humans to do. By automating these tasks, companies can reduce costs, increase productivity, and improve overall quality control.
While the use of AI-powered robots has the potential to revolutionize various industries, there are also concerns about the impact they may have on the workforce. As robots become more advanced and capable of performing a wider range of tasks, there is the possibility that some jobs may become obsolete. However, many experts believe that AI will create new job opportunities in areas such as robot maintenance, programming, and data analysis.
Overall, the integration of AI technology into robots is transforming the way we work and live. From healthcare to agriculture to manufacturing, AI-powered robots are revolutionizing industries and paving the way for a more efficient and sustainable future. As this technology continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how robots will continue to shape our world in the years to come.
