In this episode we talk about new ways of manufacturing mankind’s primary source of protein: meat. The Netherlands, Spain and Germany lead the way in development of cell-based meat, but it has already been banned in Italy. So how urgently does the EU need to address common rules on the product?
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00:00Could live grown meat be coming to a supermarket near you soon?
00:17Would you be keen to eat it?
00:19And what would farmers think about the idea?
00:25The Netherlands, Spain and Germany are leading in this area, but it has already been banned
00:29in Italy even before it reaches the plate.
00:33So how urgently does the EU need common rules for this topic?
00:37EU Decoded is digesting the fake meat issue this way.
00:42Manufacture begins by collecting cells from live animals, which are grown in laboratories
00:46and multiplied in bioreactors.
00:49The resulting meat tissue is then enhanced with fibers and other elements for added texture
00:55and nutrition.
00:56Since the artificial meat is boneless and skinless, its use is mainly foreseen for burgers,
01:02nuggets and sausages.
01:05It's a process similar to brewing beer or baking bread with yeast according to some
01:10scientists.
01:11We asked some people in the streets of Rome in Beli what they think about this novel food.
01:56So what is the state of play at the EU level about this artificial meat, let's say?
02:22Are there any rules?
02:23There are no rules, but there is a framework though.
02:27It's what is called the novel foods regulation.
02:31If a company wants to file an application and ask for marketing authorization of novel
02:37food, in this case cell-based meat, he files his application and the food safety agency
02:43EFSA basically gives a scientific opinion and then the Commission decides whether to
02:48approve it or not.
02:49In general, the scientific opinion of EFSA is always followed by the Commission.
02:53At what stage do we expect this topic to be on the legislators' agenda?
02:58The main EU competence in this kind of situation is basically food labeling.
03:04So we're talking about framework like the food information to consumers, but also that
03:09part of the common agricultural policy, which is called common market organization, that
03:14basically regulates every foodstuff that is placed on the market.
03:18And why is it so controversial, the name that we will give to this novel food?
03:22A name conveys a certain information.
03:25Just to make an example, in Italy, in the public debate, it's called synthetic meat.
03:30Synthetic meat gives this idea of plastic or something that you don't eat.
03:34I sometimes use lab-grown meat.
03:37It's not particularly enticing or you have other names like slaughter-free meat that
03:42gives another information.
03:44So the objective at the EU level is to give something that is neutral and that could help,
03:51for instance, consumers in understanding the allergies.
03:54There is a lot of discussion about ethics.
03:55Do you think that parallel to the legislation there should be maybe a promotion of a public
04:00debate in the EU about this?
04:03There must be a public debate on the importance of innovating food because it's the way to
04:10address outstanding issues like feeding a growing population or being more sustainable.
04:15So for sure, this is something that is an ethical debate, it's something that should
04:18happen in the civil society, but at the lawmaking level, it's important that you should address
04:26the safety and the innovation part first.
04:30Italy was the first country to approve national legislation banning this new food product.
04:35But almost half of the EU has shown concern about the impact on farmers, including France,
04:40Greece and Romania.
04:43Those concerned about artificial meat are worried that it might displace traditional
04:47livestock farming, that the manufacturing process is energy-intensive and uses a lot
04:52of water.
04:53Those in favour cite the welfare of animals and the benefits of cutting down on livestock
04:57farming, including fewer carbon emissions.
05:00We are now going to speak with Céline Himard, a member of the European Commission on Agriculture
05:07and Rural Development.
05:09Does cultivated meat have a place on the European market?
05:16We have the Nordic countries, like the Netherlands and Denmark, which can be favourable to this
05:21kind of development.
05:22And then there are the countries in the south, which have a gastronomic tradition, a more
05:26anchored agriculture, which is more beneficial to the territories, where the approaches are
05:31different.
05:32Politically, we can see that this is a subject that is not unanimous.
05:35Sometimes there are conditions that are not the best to raise animals.
05:40The campaign is perhaps good, but there is an industrial aspect that can be very difficult
05:46in terms of animal health.
05:48These accusations are really carried by an agribushing movement, that is, to really
05:53criticize agriculture all the time, to criticize the farmer, which is developing everywhere
05:57in Europe and which is regrettable.
05:59The standards of animal welfare and the commitment of farmers and breeders to animal welfare
06:04are extremely strong.
06:05And we are the continent where the standards of animal welfare are the most strict and
06:09the most respected.
06:10So some fear that these products could be detrimental to the cattle market produced
06:19by farmers.
06:20Do you think that this is justified?
06:22Collecting stem cells, making them grow with bioreactors, this is not what will maintain
06:28grazing, grass-raising, everything that makes our territories maintained, that there are
06:34no problems of friction, and this is extremely important.
06:37It is not the laboratory meat that will capture CO2 and that will be a response to greenhouse
06:42gas emissions.
06:43So I really believe that today, this new crisis, we really have to ask ourselves, it is not
06:49just an economic question, it is really also an ethical question and to know in which
06:53Europe we want to live.
06:55Do you think that this debate will arouse similar concerns to those of the debate on
07:01genetically modified organisms, for example?
07:04I think that, indeed, to shed light and engage in debate and dialogue with elements really
07:09based on science is important.
07:11European citizens need to know what they are committed to, what is the ethical question
07:17in terms of human and animal relations, if we are committed to the production of artificial
07:21meat with bioreactors.
07:23And I think that, indeed, these are the two parts that the Commission must encourage.
07:28So, can we trust these novel forms of artificial meat?
07:34Can we afford to lock it out and allow other regions of the world to go ahead in the development?
07:40Lab-grown meat is still at the prototype phase here in Europe, but is already reaching the
07:45markets in the US, in Singapore and Israel.
07:48We will soon see whether the new lawmakers will embrace it or reject it.
07:57For more UN videos visit www.un.org