Lab Grown Meat Approved for US Sales
Yesterday, the USDA officially approved the sale of lab-grown meat to US consumers for the first time in history.
The groundbreaking approval by the US Department of Agriculture means that lab grown meat is officially on its way to US consumers, giving way to a new era in food production for the world’s largest economy.
The announcement was specifically for cell-cultivated chicken, which is anticipated to roll out to restaurants in the near future.
What Is It?
Cell-cultivated meat is grown from a sample of an animal’s cells, resulting in the same meat product consumers are used to, but grown in a more humane and environmentally-friendly way.
Investors that have soured on plant-based food opportunities should take note that cell-cultivated meat is fundamentally different. Rather than trying to mimic the taste and texture of meat through non-meat ingredients, cell-cultivated meat is genuine animal meat, just grown in a controlled environment rather than inside the animal.
The Opportunity
The technology behind cell-cultivated meat has the potential to disrupt the trillion dollar traditional meat sector, and industry leaders are taking notice. Meat conglomerates Tyson Foods, JBS, and Cargill have all announced recent investments in the space.
There are over 150 companies globally pursuing cell-cultivated meat. To date, they have raised approximately $3 billion.
Of these 150 companies, just four are publicly-traded on North American exchanges:
Agronomics ($AGNMF) - Cellular agriculture investment firm, with equity stakes in over 20 private companies.
BSF Enterprise ($BSFA) - Owners of 3D BioTissues, a university spin-out focused on producing bio-equivalent tissues for clinical and cellular agriculture uses.
CULT Food Science ($CULT | $CULTF) - Cell-based food producer with an initial focus on the pet food industry. Owners of 18 equity investments in private cellular agriculture companies, including GOOD Meat, which was one of the two companies awarded USDA approval for US sales.
SteakHolder Foods ($STKH) - Pioneering 3D printed meat technology from their headquarters in Israel.
The groundbreaking approval of cell-cultivated meat for sale in the US is expected by many to spur a significant increase in investment within the industry, as it validates the commercial viability and potential of this innovative technology.
The move by the US is also likely to create a ripple effect globally, incentivizing other countries to adopt similar regulations and support the development and sale of cell-cultivated meat, fostering the growth of a more sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional meat production.