Lab-grown 'clean meat' may hit Indian markets by 2025
Laboratory-grown "clean meat" may become available in India by 2025, allowing consumers to enjoy animal products without supporting inhumane and unsustainable industrial animal agriculture, scientists say. Animal welfare organization Humane Society International (HSI) India and the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) in Hyderabad have joined hands to develop laboratory-grown meat in the country. Here are more details.
Globally, clean meat to hit the market by 2018-end
"Internationally, clean meat is predicted to hit the market by the end of 2018," Alokparna Sengupta, Deputy Director at HSI India said. The effort to develop clean meat has emerged due to the unsustainable methods of the large-scale industrial animal agriculture. The existing practices neglect basic animal welfare and consequently pose a threat to the environment and food security.
First clean meat was introduced in 2013
In 2013, the first cultured beef burger (clean meat) was produced and cooked. The cost of that one patty was $375,000. "In the past 5 years, Memphis Meat, a clean meat company founded by Indian origin Cardiologist Dr. Uma Valeti has produced meatballs (cost $1300) and Mosa Meat, the company which produced the beef patty has now brought it down to $30/pound," said Sengupta.
Research is on to reduce the cost of clean meat
"While the price is still high, research is on across clean meat companies to reduce the cost further by scaling up the production," Sengupta said, adding CCMB will also play a role in researching and providing solutions.
How is clean meat prepared?
To produce "clean meat", cells from an animal are taken and grown outside of the body in a petri-dish. "These cells are 'tricked' into believing they are still in the body and are made to grow," said Sengupta. Clean meat production requires far less land and water than conventional meat production and therefore alleviates repercussions of exponential climatic change, researchers said.
What are the benefits of using technology to develop meat?
The technology eliminates severe environmental damages resulting from poor waste management prevalent in current farming practices. It produces no bacterial contamination and ensures the welfare of animals. Reportedly, the taste will be same. However, instead of slaughtering an entire animal for different parts of its body, the technology can develop those parts based on the biopsy taken from different parts of the animal's body.
Challenges in developing clean meat
"While technology exists to multiply any type of cell, the scaling up of the same in an economically affordable manner as a meat substitute remains a major challenge," said Rakesh Mishra, Director at Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology. "There may also be cultural and social factors that will need to be addressed for this to be socially acceptable," Mishra added.
