NGO ProVeg International has stated that the EU is "primed to become a new Silicon Valley” for cell-based meat companies.
The statement says that the EU could reap huge economic and environmental rewards because a “gold standard” regulatory framework is already in place to approve new cell-based products.
EU Agriculture Ministers are due to meet tonight (23 January) to discuss the regulation of cell-based meat within the 27 Member State bloc, with concerns expected to be raised over the approvals process.
Jasmijn de Boo, global CEO of ProVeg International, said: “We already have the European Food Safety Authority and the Novel Foods Regulation to ensure safe and nutritious products are brought quickly to the EU market. This firmly sets up the EU to be a Silicon Valley for cultivated meat companies, bringing income security and improved livelihoods to thousands of farmers and giving a much-needed boost to biodiversity where land is freed up. It is a hugely exciting time for the bloc."
De Boo warned that the EU needed to diminish concerns about cell-based meat, stating that otherwise it could fall behind in the global agri-tech race to benefit from the emerging industry.
“Singapore and the US have already approved a handful of products, leading the way for others to follow,” De Boo added. “So, the EU already has some catching up to do. But the ground has been prepared and innovative European companies are already gearing up to bring their products to European consumers.”
The Netherlands, Spain and Germany have already made substantial investments into cell-based meat. The Dutch government announced in April 2022 that it had to support the creation of a national cellular agriculture ecosystem as part of the country’s National Growth Fund. The Spanish government, through the Centre for the Development of Industrial Technology, has awarded €5.2 million to BioTech Foods, a company that is investigating the health impacts of cell-based meat in the prevention of colon cancer and dyslipidemia.
In Germany, the government announced late last year that it had earmarked €38 million in its 2024 budget for the promotion of plant-based, precision-fermented and cell-cultivated proteins.
However, the first submission for an approval for cell-based meat in Europe happened outside the EU in Switzerland when Aleph Farms submitted approval for cell-based beef steaks this year from the Swiss authorities. Aleph also sought approval within the UK.
