Lab-Grown Meat for Pets Edges Closer to Commercial Reality

Lab-grown meat for pets is moving closer to becoming a reality. Several companies have recently made progress in developing cell-cultured meat ingredients for pet food. These innovations aim to provide a sustainable alternative to traditional meat sources. In April 2023, CULT Food Science partnered with Umami Meats to supply cell-cultured red snapper for pet food. The process involves taking animal cells, growing them in a lab, and then processing the material into usable ingredients. This method avoids the need for traditional livestock farming.

The UK-based company Meatly has already produced canned cat food containing cultivated chicken. However, the product still lacks regulatory approval and remains unavailable in stores. Meanwhile, BioCraft Pet Nutrition introduced a chicken cell line for both cat and dog foods in June 2023.

In November 2023, Bene Meat Technologies secured a registration certificate from the European Feed Materials Register. This allows the company to produce and sell cultured meat specifically for pet food. Supporters argue that lab-grown meat could reduce pollution, habitat destruction, and the spread of zoonotic diseases.

Yet, the environmental benefits of cell-cultured meat are still under review. Current production methods may not yet deliver the sustainability advantages that advocates claim. Despite this, chicken slurry from lab-grown meat could help overcome some of the economic and technical hurdles faced by the industry. Cell-cultured meat ingredients for pet food appear to be nearing the market. Companies like Meatly, BioCraft, and Bene Meat Technologies are advancing their products through development and regulatory steps. If approved, these innovations could change how pet food is sourced and produced in the future.