The Cell Base interactive map
Click below to explore the latest cell-based news from around the globe. Select a continent to access the most recent updates from that region and a round-up of key cell-based tasting events.
Mapping the cell-based industry
One of the biggest challenges facing the cell-based meat space is consumer acceptance. How can the sector win over consumers? The solution lies in allowing consumers to taste the products for themselves. Imagine biting into a juicy burger that mirrors the taste and texture of traditional meat, but with none of the environmental footprint or ethical concerns. This is the promise of cultivated meat, and tastings are crucial in turning this promise into a reality.
Taste testing is pivotal for the cell-based meat industry. It directly influences consumer acceptance by showcasing the flavour and texture of these products. It serves as an educational tool, highlighting their sustainability and ethical advantages. Feedback from tastings helps companies refine their offerings to meet consumer preferences. Positive reception validates market demand, fostering further investment and development. Additionally, consumer feedback informs policymakers about public acceptance, potentially shaping supportive regulations. Real experiences with cultivated meat - seeing, smelling and tasting it - are crucial for convincing people of its benefits and potential.
Seth Roberts, senior policy manager at the Good Food Institute Europe, emphasised:
"For cultivated meat to realise its environmental, economic and food security potential, it needs to be as delicious and affordable as conventional meat. Tastings are critical in enabling companies to seek feedback, helping them develop products that meet consumer expectations and providing landmark moments for new and developing markets."
Countries like Singapore, Israel and the UK are at the forefront of cultivated meat tastings due to their independence, which allows them to create and enforce customised regulatory rules. This autonomy enables the development of supportive regulatory environments that foster innovation. By introducing progressive policies and clear guidelines, these nations streamline the R&D processes, as well as the commercialisation of cultivated meat. Such regulatory clarity encourages investment and accelerates product development within the industry. In contrast, many EU countries are lagging behind in the cultivated meat sector due to regulatory hurdles, inadequate funding and bureaucratic delays. The absence of consistent and coherent guidelines across EU member states creates barriers for producers, resulting in regulatory fragmentation that hampers innovation and delays progress. Consequently. companies are relocating operations and seeking approvals in other countries, disadvantaging certain regions within the EU.
As we look forward to a future where cultivated meat becomes mainstream. it is essential to understand where these tastings are happening. On page 14, you'll find a map detailing the global landscape of cell-based meat tastings, showcasing the countries leading the charge and those emerging as new hubs in this sector.
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