Synthetic beef, also known as cultured beef or lab-grown beef, refers to beef that is produced by culturing animal cells in vitro rather than obtaining meat from slaughtered cattle. This emerging technology offers potential benefits in terms of sustainability, animal welfare, food security, and human health.
How is Synthetic Beef Made?
The production process involves taking a small sample of cells from a living cow, typically through a biopsy. These cells are then cultured in a growth medium containing nutrients to encourage the cells to proliferate rapidly. The cells are placed in a bioreactor to mature and develop into muscle and fat tissue that resembles conventional beef.
Scaffolds made from materials like collagen are used to give structure and organization to the growing beef tissue The scaffolds provide support for the cells to attach and develop into structured meat products like steaks or burgers
The Science Behind Synthetic Beef
Synthetic beef is produced using tissue engineering techniques from the field of regenerative medicine. It utilizes the natural process of myogenesis, where muscle cells fuse together to form muscle fibers. Researchers can control this process in vitro to generate beef tissue identical on a cellular level to conventional beef.
The technology builds on decades of research into cell lines, growth factors, bioreactors, and scaffolds. Key innovations that have enabled synthetic beef include induced pluripotent stem cells and 3D bioprinting.
Potential Benefits of Synthetic Beef
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Sustainability – Synthetic beef could significantly reduce the environmental impact of meat production in terms of land water and energy use. The inputs needed to produce cultured meat are estimated to be 78-96% lower than conventional beef production.
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Animal Welfare – No animals need to be slaughtered as only a small biopsy is required to obtain cells, The meat is simply grown from these cells in sterile bioreactors,
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Food Security – Lab-grown meat may help meet increasing global demand for meat as population grows. It avoids constraints around land and resource availability for rearing livestock.
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Human Health – Synthetic beef is free from bacterial contamination, the overuse of antibiotics and growth hormones associated with industrial cattle farming. The nutritional profile can be controlled and fortified with nutrients like omega-3.
Challenges Facing Synthetic Beef
Despite its potential, there are hurdles facing lab-grown beef:
- High production costs currently around $200-1000 per pound.
- Achieving taste, texture, and cooking qualities identical to conventional beef.
- Public perception and consumer acceptance of an artificial meat source.
- Regulation – gaining approval from food regulators like the FDA and USDA.
Current State of the Synthetic Beef Industry
The world’s first lab-grown burger was tasted in London in 2013 by food researcher Hanni Rützler, who commented that “There is really a bite to it, there is quite some flavour with the browning. I know there is no fat in it so I didn’t really know how juicy it would be, but there is quite some intense taste.”
Since then, startups and established meat companies have entered the cultured meat space. Notable players include Memphis Meats, Mosa Meat, Aleph Farms, Future Meat, Meatable and Eat Just.
In 2020, Eat Just’s cultured chicken became the first lab-grown meat to gain regulatory approval for sale, making its restaurant debut in Singapore. More recently in 2021, Upside Foods (formerly Memphis Meats) produced cultivated chicken approved by the US FDA and USDA.
While not yet widely available, synthetic beef and other cultured meats are projected to reach price parity and gain market share over the coming decade. If successfully commercialized, they have the potential to transform our food system and offer a more sustainable way of meeting global demand for meat.
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Synthetic beef has recently come to the publicâs attention with the publication of Microsoft cofounder Bill Gatesâ book How to Avoid a Climate Disaster.
In his book, Gates lays out his theory on how to mitigate climate change and lists steps he believes the world should take to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
According to Gates, all rich countries should switch to 100% synthetic beef. This can be achieved, Gates suggests, through behavioral change or regulation.
But what is synthetic beef exactly? Often mistakenly grouped synonymously with cultured or cultivated beef, the term refers to 100% plant-based, often vegan-friendly meat substitute created to have a similar look, taste and texture as beef. It tries to come as close as possible to resembling beef in taste and texture, but it ainât beef.Â
The cost of cultured meat
Cultured meat has come a long way since Mark Postâs $300,000 burger. Currently, dozens of companies are working on low-cost lab-grown meat. While thereâs still a ways to go, the cost has come down considerably.
As the scale of manufacturing improves and the cell growth medium and other materials become less expensive, price parity will be achieved. GFI contends, based on supported studies, that cultured meat could be cost-competitive with multiple forms of slaughtered animal meat by 2030.
What Is Synthetic Meat?
FAQ
Is synthetic meat healthy?
As there are no intestinal organs in the lab-grown meat, there can not be contamination during slaughter. Lab-grown meat is also free from the growth hormones that are often injected into farm animals to make their meat better. This makes the Lab-grown meat healthier.
What are the negatives of lab-grown meat?
Cons of lab-grown meat
The cultured cell is alive and prone to picking up infections or mutations, just the same as its ancestors did when they were in a live animal. However, unlike its ancestors, the cultured cell doesn’t have the protection of the immune system and wider body to keep things in check.
Does McDonald’s use synthetic beef?
Yes, every patty is 100% real beef with no fillers, additives or preservatives.