Attitudes toward artificial meat in Arab countries.

Area of Science:

• Cellular agriculture
• Food science
• Consumer behavior

Background:

• Artificial meat, also known as cell-based, cultured, or lab-grown meat, represents a significant advancement in cellular agriculture.
• Consumer attitudes towards novel food technologies are crucial for market adoption.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate Arab consumers' attitudes towards artificial meat.
• To identify key demographic factors influencing acceptance and willingness to try/purchase artificial meat in Arabic-speaking markets.

Main Methods:

• An online survey was conducted with 1025 participants from Arabic-speaking regions.
• Data analysis focused on acceptance rates, willingness to try, regular consumption, and willingness to pay (WTP).
• Regression analysis identified demographic predictors of acceptance.

Main Results:

• 17% of participants found artificial meat promising; over 40% were willing to try it, while 36% expressed reluctance.
• Among those willing to try, approximately 60% would consume it regularly.
• The majority (55%) were willing to pay less for artificial meat than conventional meat, with income, gender, and age being significant predictors.

Conclusions:

• Young and middle-aged men with higher incomes are the most receptive demographic groups for artificial meat in Arab countries.
• Understanding these consumer segments is vital for developing targeted marketing strategies.
• Significant challenges remain regarding consumer price sensitivity and acceptance levels for artificial meat in this market.