Are We Ready for Cultured Meat?

Affordable and sustainable high-protein alternatives are needed for a growing global population whose meat consumption is expected to double from 1999 to 2050 (FAO 2006). With livestock production responsible for over 18% of global greenhouse gas emissions, as well as being one of the major causes of deforestation, wildlife habitat degradation, and eutrophication of water (FAO 2006), could growing muscle tissue in a laboratory or production facility be one potential solution?

Cultured meat, also …