These test-tube samples, dubbed “clean meat,” are biologically identical to ” real meat’ and are made using animal cells that are fed sugar, minerals, and oxygen. These cells are placed in a bioreactor until they develop into skeletal muscles within a few weeks.
Clean Meat is expected to be commercially available by 2021. It has obvious benefits for the environment, animal welfare, and consumer health. In a press statement, Uma Valeti M. D. explained that “we really believe this is an important technological leap for mankind, and an amazing business opportunity — to transform a giant industry around the world while contributing towards solving some of today’s most pressing sustainability issues.”
Other companies have also come up with innovative solutions to the meat issue. Impossible Foods has created a plant-based “beef burger” to appeal to meat eaters. Next week, the company is opening its first processing facility. Beyond MeMeat also offers a line of meat alternatives, including chicken. The Not Company, a Chilean start-up, has used this method to create animal-free products like milk and cheese.
Memphis Meat is not vegan or vegetarian (fetal serum is taken from chicks and cows). Still, it is a good option for those who are environmentally and morally aware and want to sustain their consumption habits. A large number of consumers also support these initiatives. According to the SONAR(TM) survey, 74% of S and UK millennials will adopt new eating habits to reduce their environmental impact.
These initiatives should inspire food brands to put ethics and sustainability at the forefront of their actions. They must acknowledge that the values surrounding food are changing and that there is a greater interest in meatless alternatives and sustainability.
