Have you heard about cultivated meat, also known as cultured meat?
It's real animal meat, including seafood and organ meats, that is produced by cultivating animal cells directly. This production method eliminates the need to raise and farm animals for food. Cultivated meat is made of the same cell types that can be arranged in the same or similar structure as animal tissues, thus replicating the sensory and nutritional profiles of conventional meat. Fascinating, isn't it?
Who invented it first? How was it presented to the world?
In 2013, Dutch scientist Mark Post unveiled the first cultivated meat burger on live television. Since then, the industry has grown to more than 150 companies on 6 continents as of late 2022, backed by $2.6B in investments. Companies are aiming to produce cultivated meat products using advanced technology.
Well, now that we know what lab meat is, let's see how it's made!
The production process starts with obtaining and preserving stem cells from an animal. These cells are then cultured in bioreactors, also known as cultivators, at high densities and volumes. Similar to how cells grow inside an animal's body, they are provided with an oxygen-rich cell culture medium containing essential nutrients like amino acids, glucose, vitamins, and inorganic salts, along with growth factors and other proteins.
Changes in the medium composition, often combined with cues from a scaffolding structure, prompt undeveloped cells to turn into the muscle, fat, and connective tissues that form meat. The developed cells are subsequently collected, processed, and packaged as end products. This process typically takes between 2-8 weeks, depending on the type of meat being produced.
Let's see a few benefits of lab meat ~
Low risk of contamination -
Cultured meat, also known as lab-grown meat, offers several potential benefits. One of the key advantages is the reduced risk of contamination. Advocates of cultured meat argue that it is less likely to be contaminated by harmful bacteria such as E. coli, which is commonly found in traditional meat processing plants due to animal feces.
Fewer antibiotics -
Additionally, cultured meat production requires fewer antibiotics compared to traditional livestock farming. The overuse of antibiotics in traditional livestock can contribute to antibiotic resistance, making these drugs less effective in treating infections.
Less environmental impact -
As the global demand for meat increases, more forested land is being converted into ranches and crop fields. In contrast, cultured meat requires significantly less land, uses less water, and generates less pollution. Traditional beef production is a major source of methane, carbon dioxide, and nitrous oxide emissions, which are greenhouse gases contributing to global warming. Lab-grown meat has the potential to significantly reduce these harmful emissions.
Animal welfare -
Cultured meat is considered kinder to animals because it only requires a small sample of tissue and does not involve killing an animal. The cells used to grow cultured meat can be taken from a living animal, and some of the nutrient baths used in the process are vegetarian, while others may contain blood from slaughtered animals.
What do you guys think will be the future of food industry and our lifestyle? Let me know in the comments.
Bình luận