The Royal Agricultural University (RAU) has released a report looking at how UK farmers may be affected by cultured meat production in the future.
The report, titled Culture Clash? What cultured meat could mean for UK farming investigated how farmers feel about the future of cultured meat, with the Royal Agricultural University interviewing nine UK farms to gain their feedback.
Each farm was interviewed on two separate occasions, and two were omitted from the report to maintain anonymity. The report stated that discussions were “not to be representative of UK farming, but to provide an in-depth analysis of some perceptions, understanding and implications for farmers”.
Partners of the project included Louise Manning, Professor of Sustainable Agri Food Systems at University of Lincoln; Illtud Dunsford, CEO of Cellular Agriculture; Valeria Crowder, Membership Experience Coordinator, Farm491; with John Dooley and Tom MacMillan of RAU leading the project.
The first phase of the project addressed farmers’ attitudes towards cultured meat, with focus groups held with farmers representing a “wide range of sectors”. The groups discussed their perceptions of cultured meat as well as the potential impacts it could have on farming, finding recurring themes about threats to food and farming, as well as some possible opportunities.
The study found that some farmers involved in the project were “keen to engage further with cultured meat businesses”. Several farms reportedly hosted visits by groups of people involved in the cultured meat business following the interviews, in order to “explore the practical implications of this study”.
