In a move aimed at protecting the state's agricultural sector, Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen has announced his support for three legislative proposals, including a bill that seeks to ban the production and sale of lab-grown meat within the state.

During a news conference this week, Governor Pillen, flanked by State Senators Mike Jacobson and Barry DeKay, articulated his rationale for the proposed ban, emphasising the need to safeguard Nebraska's farming and ranching industries.

“It’s important we get on the offense so that Nebraska farmers and ranchers are not undermined,” Pillen stated, highlighting agriculture as a cornerstone of the state's economy.

The proposed legislation, known as Legislative Bill 246, defines cultivated protein products as those derived from cell cultures rather than traditional meat processing. While the bill specifically targets lab-grown meat, it does not extend to plant-based alternatives, allowing Nebraskans to purchase such products from outside the state.

Pillen's stance reflects a broader concern among some lawmakers regarding the impact of lab-grown meat on traditional agricultural markets. Advocates for cultivated meat argue that it offers environmental benefits, such as reduced land and water use and lower contamination risks.

However, the governor expressed skepticism about the market's ability to self-regulate and cited examples like almond milk, which he believes undermines the dairy industry.

“Money and advertising can sway the public in a direction that’s not healthy,” he remarked, asserting that aggressive legislative measures are necessary to protect established agricultural practices.

Violators of the proposed ban could face penalties under existing Nebraska food safety laws. This legislative effort follows Governor Pillen's executive order from the previous summer, which prohibited state agencies from procuring lab-grown meat and required contractors to prioritise traditional agricultural products.

In addition to the lab-grown meat ban, Pillen’s legislative agenda includes proposals aimed at enhancing water resource management and protecting the data of Nebraska farmers from large corporations.

In other news

On 29 February, the Florida Senate approved a bill banning the sale and consumption of cell-based meat within the US state.

The news comes after Florida House Republican Tyler Sirios introduced a bill in November, aiming to make it illegal to manufacture, sell, hold or distribute cell-based meat within Florida state.

The approval of the bill makes Florida the first US state to ban cell-based meat. The Republican-controlled Senate voted 26-10 to pass the bill named SB 1084.

Meanwhile, governers in Iowa have passed legislation regulating the labelling of cell-based and alt-meat products back in May 2024.

Effective from 1 July, the law states that food products that include cultured meat and plant-based meat alternatives need to be labelled with terms such as ‘fake,’ ‘lab-grown,’ ‘meatless,’ ‘imitation’ or ‘vegan’.

Elsewhere, in November 2023, the Italian Chamber of Deputies passed a law in banning the production and marketing of cell-based meat and the use of meat-related names, such as 'salami' or 'steak', for plant-based meat products.

Italy made the move in a bid to protect its agricultural history and traditional culinary culture. The stance was first announced in March this year, when Italy’s Agriculture Minister, Francesco Lollobrigida, said that Italy is the first nation to say no to “synthetic” food as laboratory products do not guarantee quality or wellbeing, nor protect Italy’s culture and traditions.

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