The Environmental Benefits of Cultured Meat

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The benefits of cultured meat are primarily environmental, including fewer emissions and growth hormones. Furthermore, these meats are safer than conventional meat because they are raised in bioreactors and do not contain animal waste or digestive organs. This eliminates the possibility of contamination, which minimizes the risk of disease outbreaks. In addition, cultured meat grows only the edible parts of the animal rather than any bone or organ waste.

Environmentally Friendly

One of the most exciting benefits of eating cultured meat is that it is produced indoors, meaning that it is not exposed to unfavorable external conditions such as droughts and natural disasters. Furthermore, contamination by pathogens and disease is almost nonexistent since it is made in sterile conditions. Another environmental benefit of eating cultured meat is that it does not involve animal slaughter or exploitation, as Paul Shapiro, an author of Clean Meat (2018), would agree.

The technology behind cultured meat is still in its early stages, so it is still unclear if it will prove to be as healthy and affordable as conventional meat. Scientists take stem cells from animals and grow them in a bioreactor. The cells are bathed in a liquid containing nutrients and are then manipulated mechanically to grow muscle tissue. The product is harvested, processed, and marketed as a healthy alternative to conventional meat.

Free From Growth Hormones

The production of cultured meat has several advantages. It is considered an environmentally friendly method of raising livestock, as it produces fewer GHG emissions and requires less land and water than conventional livestock farming. Studies show that some types of cultured meat contain high growth hormones. As a result, consumers may not be aware of this fact.

Cultured Meat

Conventional meat is a source of harmful bacteria like Listeria, E. coli, and Campylobacter. These bacteria can cause infections like toxoplasmosis and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. By avoiding conventional meat, you’re protecting yourself from these diseases. Although the production process of cultured meat is much safer, contamination can still occur. Therefore, people should avoid eating cultured meat until it’s proven safe.

Reduced Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Using a low-carbon energy source in cultured meat production can reduce the impact of the process on the environment. However, the technology has not yet reached a commercial scale. It is not known how much energy cultured meat production will require. Instead, the researchers used the average cultured meat footprint, which was 6.64 kg CO2 and 0.019 kg CH4, and 0.0013 kg N2O per kilogram of cultured meat.

A recent analysis suggests that the carbon dioxide equivalent footprint for cultured meat is about 96% lower than that generated from conventional meat production from cattle. This analysis also showed that meat production would require 7 to 45 percent less energy than chickens. As a result, the production process would require less water and land than the current system. Ultimately, this will help the environment. Until then, however, this technology will remain an untapped resource.

Less Likely to Lead to E.coli Infection

The production of cultured meat involves high levels of cell multiplication, which has raised concerns about the possibility of mutation of the cells. This process has been linked to cancer, which many fear could occur. Traditional meat can also be contaminated by the digestive juices of the animal’s adjacent organs. Because cultured meat does not require slaughtering, the risk of contamination from the digestive juices is lower.

Research on this type of meat is ongoing, but it is a promising alternative for consumers and livestock farmers. It is environmentally friendly and could be the answer to growing world meat demand. 

Health Benefits

Growing meat in controlled conditions could reduce the risk of pathogens and animal-borne diseases. Moreover, in vitro meat could reduce the incidence of livestock-associated diseases that can cause human illness. Scientists also hope that consuming in vitro meat will decrease the use of antibiotics, pesticides, and heavy metals. However, these benefits remain to be proven. Nonetheless, consumers should consider the pros and cons before converting to this type of meat.

One significant health benefit of consuming cultured meat over conventional meat is that it does not contain antibiotics. This helps to avoid the development of antibiotic resistance and foodborne diseases. Another health benefit of eating cultured meat is that it reduces the environmental footprint associated with producing conventional meat. Refined meat production also requires less land and water than traditional farming methods. Consequently, it reduces the emission of harmful pollutants into the environment.