The production of meat for human consumption is a very significant contributor to carbon emissions. While estimates vary, most experts consider that meat and dairy production account for 15-18% of all global emissions. “Clean meat”, otherwise known as cultured or cultivated meat, involves isolating cells from an animal (e.g. via a biopsy) and culturing these cells in vitro within a laboratory. Clean meat produces real animal-based meat but involves only a small fraction of the carbon emissions. Clean meat also involves no ethical concerns, does not require any antibiotics, and requires vastly less land than conventional methods.
The first cultured beef burger was launched in 2013 at Maastricht University and cost €250,000 to produce. There have been many developments in clean meat since then. Most companies are focusing on alternative methods of producing the most popular meats, including chicken, pork, beef and fish. However, there are also companies developing the production of clean elk, lamb, bison and Wagyu beef.
Cultivated chicken nuggets were approved for sale in Singapore in 2020 and initial steps have been taken by the US Food and Drug Administration to allow the production of cultivated chicken in the US. At present, clean meat is not permitted to be sold in the EU or the UK because it has not yet been approved by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) or the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA). Approval in the EU requires approval from all 27 member nations. However, post-Brexit, the UK could bring cultivated meat products to market swiftly, and the UK FSA has agreed to review its Novel Food Regulations and has been meeting with industry leaders to discuss the regulatory framework for clean meat products. This is anticipated by investors, with the Good Food Institute finding that between 2021 and 2022, there was almost a 400% increase in investment in the cultivated meat sector in the UK. For example, a spin-out company from Oxford University raised over £26.5m in funding and opened a plant production in the UK last year to develop cultivated pork.
Clean meat is estimated to make up 35% of global meat consumption by 2040, providing that regulatory challenges are overcome. This will reap benefits to those who innovate within this field. Intellectual property protection is fundamental to the continued growth of this industry and innovations in the space are rapidly emerging. Patent filings within the cultivated meat sector in the UK and Europe are comparatively low, meaning that early filings could obtain broad protection. A strong patent portfolio attracts investors and increases your market position within the clean meat field. Moreover, in the UK, profits generated from patented products benefit from a lower rate of corporation tax through the Patent Box scheme.
