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According to FAO studies, demand for food and feed is expected to increase by 70% by 2050 with a world population of around 10 billion people. What alternatives are emerging for the eco-friendly supply of protein foods?

Facing food shortages: ways out sought

Awareness of sustainability and health has arrived. In Germany, around 10 percent of the population are confessed vegetarians, and their number is rising by one million every year. On the other hand, the yield of cereals and pulses in the countries of the tropical zone is expected to decline by a total of about 15 percent by 2050 compared with 2010 as a result of climate change. This will require the use of higher-yielding cereal varieties and water-saving soil cultivation.

Meat without slaughter?

Not least, this perspective gives essential impetus to research aimed at reproducing animal cells bypassing natural reproduction. Following a stem cell biopsy on a living animal, new muscle tissue is generated in a nutrient medium. The increasing use of plant-based nutrient media instead of serum from calf fetuses can be seen as forward-looking.

Advantages and disadvantages of laboratory meat: not yet conclusively assessed

According to current findings, the consumption of laboratory meat does not lead to any adverse health effects. The ecological effects of the production of lab-grown meat have also been little studied. According to a study published by the American Chemical Society, land and water consumption and greenhouse gas emissions are reduced in the production of cultured meat. The energy balance of in vitro meat is more favorable compared to animal agriculture, but at a disadvantage compared to plant-based diets.

On the way to market

The addition of fatty tissue from bovine stem cells has also significantly improved the taste of the meat. With support from 3D printing, the currently still mushy consistency is to give way to a structure close to that of natural meat. The price of an in vitro burger is still around 10 to 11 dollars. Increasing competition thanks to new start-ups with shorter development times in the USA and Israel means that prices are expected to fall further. Swiss retailers have also recognized the signs of the times. Through the Bell Food Group, Coop has a stake in the Dutch start-up Mosa Meat, while Migros is involved in the Israeli start-up Aleph Farms.

Future with diversity

The potential for innovation in alternative foods has not been exhausted, as evidenced by the fact that only about $1 billion has been invested globally in research and development for lab-grown meat. The increase over the last three years, including about $120 million in new funding for Aleph Farms, indicates a growing general interest in alternative foods. moderning monitors this development and shows the interactions between the research branches involved, politics, business, and the consumer values that ultimately determine success. The future scenarios developed with you show the range of feasibility and acceptance – and the chances of achieving a new diversity instead of just having to prevent an impending emergency.