Members of a newly formed alliance have teamed up to bypass the rearing and slaughtering of animals to produce meat directly from cultured cells for restaurants and retail shelves.
The Alliance for Meat, Poultry & Seafood Innovation (AMPS Innovation) is a collaboration of groups that produce laboratory meat, with the aim of bringing cell-based meat, poultry and seafood to restaurants and retail shelves in the US.
The aim of the alliance is to focus on “educating consumers and stakeholders about their new industry and advocating for a clear path to market for their products”.
The cutting-edge food companies that have joined forces are Memphis Meats, Finless Foods, BlueNalu, Fork & Goode and JUST, who plan to work with US authorities and Members of Congress.
Cultured meat is grown in a laboratory directly from animal cells. The makers claim it is much more efficient, humane and environmentally friendly than rearing an entire animal or fish.
Cell-based meat, poultry and seafood is real meat grown outside the animal, from animal cells. This means the companies can produce only the muscle, fat, skin and connective tissue that is typically eaten, without producing the parts of the animal that are not typically consumed.
Those in favour believe it could be a sustainable way to meet increasing global demand for meat as the world’s population grows. However ethical debates have arisen alongside negativity from some traditional farmers and ranchers.
AMPS Innovation member companies are all still in the research and development phase, with the hope of products appearing on shelves in the coming years.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been in talks with the Agriculture Department in the US, over who should be responsible for handling regulation and oversight of cultured meats.
The member company founders said in a joint statement: “The Alliance for Meat, Poultry & Seafood Innovation was founded on a desire for members of our industry to come together and speak with a unified voice as we emerge as a viable, impactful partner in the overall food and agriculture sector.
“Over the past few years, each member company has made significant strides in the development of our products, and we are excited at the prospect that they will soon be options in the everyday diets of individuals. We are committed to an open and science-based dialogue with all stakeholders, including industry partners, policymakers, advocates and consumers.”
