Lab-grown meat could be on our plates in just two years under new government plans
LAB-GROWN meat could be on our plates in just two years under government regulation plans.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) will set up the first scheme to test its quality and safety.
Modern technology means sirloin steaks can be grown in petri dishes from just a handful of cow cells, instead of killing farmed animals.
Currently, no cell-derived lab meat is approved for human consumption in the UK, although it can be used in pet food.
Professor Robin May, chief scientific adviser at the FSA, said: “This is very exciting.
“Internationally, we are definitely ahead of the curve.
“Britain has a relatively high number of vegetarians, vegans and flexitarians who are looking for these kinds of alternatives.”
The FSA will use a £1.6million grant from the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology to set up a system for testing and approving the lab meat.
It has already received four applications for beef, chicken and duck products, and expects at least 15 more soon.
The facilities will take two years to set up.
Prof May added: “This will allow us to keep pace with new technologies being used by the food industry.”
Cultivated meat is grown by taking stem cells from a living animal and encouraging them to multiply in a laboratory.
The cells’ arrangement can be controlled to create different textures, such as the tough ridges of steak or the softness of fat.
Manufacturers hope the products will reduce animal cruelty, environmental damage and the risk of species extinction.