In vitro meat should not be confused with imitation meat, which is a vegetarian food product produced from vegetable—usually soy—protein. The terms synthetic meat and artificial meat are ambiguous, as they may refer to either.
In 2001, dermatologist Wiete Westerhof from the University of Amsterdam and businessmen Willem van Eelen and Willem van Kooten announced that they had filed for a worldwide patent on a process to produce in vitro meat (patent number WO9931222). A matrix of collagen is seeded with muscle cells, which are then bathed in a nutritious solution and induced to divide.
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Process and patent
Arguments in favor
Reduced animal suffering
In vitro meat may appeal to animal welfare advocates and others concerned about animal well-being. Replacing traditional meat with in vitro meat has the potential to reduce overall animal suffering; however it does not eliminate it. See also: "Animals are still used" argument, below.Health
In vitro meat may be cleaner and less prone to disease than animals, provided that donor cells are not contaminated.Environment
The negative environmental consequences of traditional meat production, such as nitrate contamination and methane production, are eliminated.Space food
On long space voyages or stays, in vitro meat could be grown alongside hydroponic vegetables.Arguments against
Animals are still used
Animals are still used as tools in multiple steps. For example, cell and tissue culture almost always use calf or fetal calf serum (or other animal sources, such as pituitary extracts) to provide the growth factors the cells need to signal them to divide.Artificial environment
At least initially, many people will likely prefer meat grown in a natural rather than an artificial environment. Luddites and environmentalists may not want any scientific or technological interference with nature, especially interference with food. On the other hand, many opponents may prefer the consumption of in vitro meat by others to the slaughter of live animals.Quality, safety and health
People may be concerned that in vitro meat is of lesser quality than traditional meat, and that there are unresolved health risks. However, like any food product, in vitro meat would be required to pass through many safety and health trials before it could be sold.Differences from traditionally produced meat
If in vitro meat is different in appearance, taste, smell, texture and other factors, this may reduce its appeal. On the other hand, the absence of fat and bone may also be an advantage.Economic impact
It is not yet known whether in vitro meat is economically competitive with traditional meat. For in vitro meat, costs only apply to the meat production, whereas for traditional meat, costs include animal raising and environmental protection. The currently required laboratory setting for in vitro meat is very expensive, however.Fiction
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