Environmental Sustainability of Cultivated Meat

Cultivated meat is developed as an alternative to livestock meat in reducing the negative externalities of the animal-based food systems. Prospective life cycle assessment studies have been used to estimate the potential environmental impacts of cultivated meat production. Results indicate that cultivated meat production has relatively high industrial energy demand, but lower land use requirements compared to livestock meat production. The climate impacts of cultivated meat depend on the source of energy used. Due to the low land use requirements, cultivated meat could have benefits to biodiversity by reducing the pressure to convert forests and natural habitats to agricultural land. Cultivated meat production could also reduce water use and emissions to waterbodies. The environmental impacts of different cultivated meat production processes are wide depending on the process design and sources of inputs. Life cycle assessment studies can guide the development of cultivated meat production processes towards sustainable options.