Cultivated Meat: Industry Experts Share Their Perspectives at Tufts Innovation Day
A Gathering of Opinions on the Current State of Cultivated Meat Technology
On January 11th, 2024, Tufts University hosted the Cellular Agriculture Innovation Day, a gathering of industry leaders, researchers, and policymakers to discuss the progress and challenges in cultivated meat technology. The event featured a diverse range of perspectives, with some expressing optimism about the industry’s potential and others raising concerns about the scalability and cost-effectiveness of the technology.
Technology Readiness Level: A Point of Contention
One of the key topics of debate was the current technology readiness level (TRL) of cultivated meat. TRL is a system developed by NASA to assess the maturity of a given technology, ranging from 1 to 9, with higher numbers indicating a more advanced stage.
Dr. Dave Humbird, a chemical engineer and engineering consultant, argued that cultivated meat is still in its early stages of development, claiming it has not progressed beyond TRL 3. He pointed to the lack of a clear value proposition and uncertainty about production costs as evidence of the technology’s immaturity.
Industry Skepticism vs. Optimism
In contrast, Yossi Quint, founder of Ark Biotech, expressed a more optimistic view. He believes the industry has made significant progress and is further along than many people realize. Quint highlighted the rapid decrease in media costs, with several companies now able to produce media for less than $1 per liter. He emphasized the need for larger, more affordable bioreactors and extreme automation to achieve scale and cost-effectiveness.
The Role of Government Support
Bruce Friedrich, founder of the Good Food Institute, called for government support to kickstart the cultivated meat industry. He drew parallels to the electric vehicle and biopharma industries, which received substantial government support in their early stages. Friedrich proposed long-term, low-interest government loans to help companies overcome the high capital costs associated with scaling up production.
Sustainability and Environmental Concerns
The sustainability of cultivated meat was also a topic of discussion. Dr. Nicole Tichenor Blackstone, an assistant professor at Tufts, stressed the importance of using renewable energy sources to power cultivated meat facilities. She criticized a recent study claiming that greenhouse gas emissions from cultivated beef could be higher than conventional beef, arguing that the assumptions used in the study were not representative of the industry’s current state.
Regulatory Challenges
The event also addressed the regulatory landscape for cultivated meat. Dr. Eric Schulze, a former executive at UPSIDE Foods, expressed concern about the lack of progress in Europe, where the precautionary principle often leads to a more cautious approach to new technologies. He highlighted the United States as a leader in cultivated meat regulation, with the recent approvals of GOOD Meat and UPSIDE Foods.
Looking Ahead: The Path to Commercialization
Despite the challenges, industry experts remain hopeful about the future of cultivated meat. They believe that with continued technological advancements, cost reductions, and government support, the industry can overcome the remaining hurdles and bring cultivated meat to market at a competitive price.
Additional Perspectives
The event also featured insights from Sanah Baig, USDA deputy undersecretary for research, education, and economics. Baig emphasized the USDA’s commitment to supporting novel food sources, including cellular agriculture, and highlighted the need for a diversified food system to meet future demands.
Davide Dukcevich, a private investor, expressed optimism about the current industry downturn, seeing it as an opportunity for consolidation and the emergence of stronger companies. John Ellersick, from Next Rung Technology, emphasized the importance of solid science and a long-term investment horizon for success in the cultivated meat industry.
Conclusion
The Cellular Agriculture Innovation Day provided a platform for diverse perspectives on the current state of cultivated meat technology. While some experts expressed caution about the industry’s readiness, others highlighted the progress made and the potential for significant growth. The event underscored the need for continued innovation, cost reduction, government support, and a favorable regulatory environment to accelerate the commercialization of cultivated meat.