US invests $10 million to build Institute for Cellular Agriculture

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) will allocate $10 million to create the National Institute for Cellular Agriculture. This was reported on October 18 by the online publication VegNews. The government will provide funding to Tufts University over the course of five years to establish America's premier research center for cultured proteins.

The project aims to create a more sustainable food system by developing "advocacy, knowledge sharing and education for the next generation of professionals" in the field of cellular agriculture.

“I am pleased that USDA leadership continues to recognize the important role these technologies can play in combating climate change and ensuring the much-needed sustainability of our food system,” said Appropriations Committee Chair Rosa DeLauro.

The study will be led by Tufts University professor and renowned meat farming expert David Kaplan.

Public investment will help support the critical research needed to rapidly expand cultured meat production, as the main barrier to bringing it to market is cost reduction.

“Reducing emissions from food production is critical to limiting climate change, and alternative proteins are the best solution to create the rapid change we need right now,” said Good Food Institute (GFI) founder and president Bruce Friedrich.

GFI welcomes USDA $10 million investment and advocates for $2 billion in federal funding for research and development on alternative proteins.

Recall that more than $ 5 million is going to provide GFI for 22 research projects that will help the sector of alternative proteins grow whole cuts of meat.

In addition, according to the GFI report, the cultured meat industry attracted investment of at least $366 million in 2020.

The cell meat market currently boasts over 70 start-ups. In fact, total capital invested in the industry increased by 487% from 2019 to 2020.

It should be noted that on September 23, Doctor of Economics, Professor Leonid Kholod said that alternative protein producers will use the theme of the climate crisis to promote their products, but this is unlikely to greatly accelerate its distribution.