Report: Cultivated Meat Could Provide Opportunities for Some UK Farmers – vegconomist

A report by the UK’s Royal Agricultural University (RAU) has investigated how the widespread adoption of cultivated meat could impact UK farmers.
The results indicate that under the right circumstances, cultivated meat could provide opportunities for some farmers, such as supplying animal cells or raw materials for cultivated meat production. It may also be possible for farmers to turn crop or animal byproducts into an income stream by selling them as cultivated meat ingredients. According to the report, using these byproducts as amino acid sources could reduce the cost and environmental footprint of cultivated meat production.
Other farmers may be able to gain private investment in order to produce cultivated meat on their own farms. However, it is believed that this would cost about 30% more than factory-scale production.
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Inclusive communication
Some farmers were interested in exploring these possibilities, though others said that rearing livestock was central to their identity. Many expressed concerns about cultivated meat, including a perceived lack of unbiased data, uncertainty over how new supply chains would work in practice, worries about potential knock-on effects, and the idea that cultivated products are “unnatural”. In many cases, factors such as business diversification, tenure, assets, and contractual relationships could shape farmers’ resilience to the potential disruption created by cultivated meat.
The report suggests that both farming and the cultivated meat industry would benefit from moving away from a polarised debate. Inclusive communication that acknowledges uncertainties and farmer innovation could help to build common ground.
Furthermore, the industries could work together on research and innovation, particularly into waste valorisation and on-farm production. A platform could be developed to help interested farmers connect with cultivated meat businesses, and investors could request that cultivated meat companies include a “just transition” for farmers in their Environmental, Social, and Governance commitments.
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Finding common cause
The report is the second stage of an RAU research project studying the potential impact of cultivated meat on UK farmers. The first stage focused on farmers’ opinions on cultivated meat, which were complex and varied. Some believed the technology had the potential to create cheaper meat products and could benefit arable farmers, while others were sceptical about the feasibility of cultivating meat.
There was also concern about the perceived lack of transparency and corporate secrecy of cultivated meat companies. However, some farmers saw the potential for traditional farms to provide plant or animal-derived raw materials.
“After consulting with farmers, policymakers, environmental groups, and funders, we launched our report, which found that far from spelling the end for traditional agriculture, scientists and companies developing cultured meat could find common cause with farmers,” said RAU.

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