Culture Clash? What cultured meat could mean for UK farming

Culture Clash? What cultured meat could mean for UK farming

This report summarises Cultured Meat & Farmers, a two-year interdisciplinary study, analysing social media, discussing the technology with groups of farmers, working with diverse farm businesses across the UK, and modelling novel approaches to cultured meat production based on agricultural by-products. Our team and partners included natural and social scientists, farming representatives, cultured meat businesses, NGOs and policy makers.

The report was welcomed by Guy Poppy, Transforming UK Food Systems SPF Programme Director, Deputy Executive Chair of BBSRC and UKRI Food Champion, who funded the study. He said: “Whilst there is general agreement about the need to transform our food system for healthier people and a healthier planet, there is considerable debate about how best to do that. One of the very contested areas relates to the role of livestock farming for meat rather than the race for alternative protein sources such as cultured meats.

“This report offers synergies and a future route for bridging divides between livestock farmers and cultured meat producers. Importantly the call for greater communication and discussion will be important for many innovations being developed to help make food production and farming be a solution to climate change as opposed to a major contributor to emissions and climate change.”