A case for systemic environmental analysis of cultured meat

• Published in: Journal of Integrative Agriculture 2015-02, Vol.14 (2), p.249-254, Article 249
• Main Author: Carolyn S Mattick, Amy E Landis, Braden R Allenby (China National Hybrid Rice Research and Development Centre, Changsha 410125, P.R.China)
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: anticipatory life cycle assessment; cultured meat; cultured meat in vitro meat factory-grown food anticipatory life cycle assessment systemic environmental implications of emerging technologies; factory-grown food; in vitro meat; systemic environmental implications of emerging technologies; 利益相关者; 培养; 案例; 环境分析; 生命周期评估; 系统; 肉类; 能源消耗
• ISSN: 2095-3119; 2352-3425
• DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(14)60885-6

The environmental implications of cultured meat are profound. An anticipatory life cycle assessment of cultured meat published in 2011 suggested it could have a smaller impact than agricultural meat in all categories except energy consumption. As with most technologies, cultured meat will almost certainly be accompanied by unintended consequences as well as unforeseen costs and benefits that accrue disproportionately to different stakeholders. Uncertainty associated with new engineered products cannot be completely eliminated prior to introduction, but ongoing environmental assessments of the technologies as they advance can serve to reduce unforeseen risks. Given the pace at which tissue engineering is advancing, systemic assessments of the technology will be pivotal in mitigating unintended environmental consequences.