Challenges and Prospects for Cultivated Meat Production

We envision the future landscape of cultivated meat and explore the key forces shaping this nascent industry. Delving into these pivotal forces, we ask a fundamental question: What are the key drivers likely to bring about the outcomes predicted by Gerhardt et al. (Ind Biotechnol 16(5):262–270, 2020) for 2040? We scrutinize these forces from diverse domains to understand how they may either propel or impede the progress of cultivated meat. These influential factors encompass consumer acceptance, price parity, production and distribution capacities, regulatory and legal considerations, environmental impact, animal ethics, social dynamics, and, crucially, support from institutional and entrepreneurial ecosystems. Additionally, we outline a set of priority capabilities essential for the industry’s advancement—encompassing the intrinsic skills, knowledge, and experiences—individually and collectively—that stakeholders must cultivate to realize the anticipated outcomes. Strengthening these capabilities lays the groundwork for the nascent industry, paving the way for its projected future.