Cultivated meat farming: a transitioning model for the future of agriculture

The Netherlands, known for its significant role in global agricultural exports, is now exploring a shift toward cultivated meat farming as traditional livestock farming faces increasing economic, environmental, and societal pressures. This innovative approach allows farmers to produce cultured meat using existing farm infrastructure, offering a sustainable alternative while preserving their livelihoods.

Despite contributing significantly to agricultural exports – generating more than €5.2 billion from meat in 2019 – Dutch farmers are now grappling with challenges such as fluctuating market prices, rising production costs, and tightening regulations. A study by Connecting Agri & Food in collaboration with RESPECTfarms showed that between 2020 and 2023, the beef sector in the Netherlands saw little to no operational profit, despite the injection of €426 million in subsidies.

Beyond the economic challenges, the environmental impact of traditional livestock farming has drawn considerable attention. Livestock farming is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions and nitrogen pollution. These environmental challenges, coupled with increasing societal concerns over animal welfare and the heavy use of land and resources, have led to calls for more sustainable and innovative farming models.

One key statistic comes from a study conducted by Wageningen University, which found that each kilogram of minced beef from dairy cows results in €4.91 in societal costs, encompassing environmental degradation, health concerns, and animal welfare. In contrast, cultivated minced beef produced on a farm would reduce these societal costs to €2.17 per kilogram, demonstrating the potential benefits of transitioning to cultivated meat.

RESPECTfarms, founded on the belief that cultivated meat can offer new revenue models for farmers, is working to bridge the gap between traditional livestock farming and cutting-edge food technology. By integrating cultivated meat production into existing farm infrastructure, farmers can maintain their connection to the land while embracing a more sustainable method of meat production.

The feasibility of this transition was explored through a series of interviews and research projects. RESPECTfarms partnered with leading institutions, including Rabobank, Wageningen University, and Mosa Meat, to conduct a feasibility study examining the economic, environmental, and social implications of farm-scale cultivated meat production. Their findings suggest that such a model not only reduces societal costs but also provides a viable new revenue stream for farmers, particularly those struggling with the economic pressures of traditional farming.

One of the key questions driving RESPECTfarms’ research was whether farmers would be willing to adopt cultivated meat production as part of their operations. Over the course of several years, RESPECTfarms conducted interviews with 57 Dutch farmers, many of whom are highly skilled and dedicated to the profession, seeing farming not just as a job but as a way of life.

The research revealed that 10.5% of the farmers interviewed expressed a positive interest in transitioning to cultivated meat farming. Considering that there are nearly 20,000 livestock farmers in the Netherlands alone, this equates to over 2,000 farmers already open to the idea of cultivating meat as a business model.

Farmers noted several reasons for their interest in cultivated meat, including economic viability, sustainability, and the potential for reduced labor. Many farmers recognized that livestock farming is no longer as profitable as it once was, particularly in sectors like beef, where operational profit margins have diminished despite subsidies. Additionally, livestock farming requires long hours and significant physical labor, with some farmers expressing interest in solutions that would allow them to continue farming while reducing the physical demands of their work.

RESPECTfarms has been working with a consortium of partners to explore the technical and economic feasibility of producing cultivated meat on a farm scale. Over the past 18 months, the company has researched everything from cell line development and cell feed to bioprocess design and regulatory requirements. Their goal is to design a system that is both cost-effective and technically feasible for farmers to implement.

One promising area of research involves using existing agricultural crops and side streams, such as yeast and grass, as potential feed sources for the cultivated cells. This could help farmers further reduce the costs of production while using materials they are already familiar with. Additionally, RESPECTfarms aims to minimize contamination risks and reduce the capital investment required for cultivated meat production by utilizing single-use bioreactor technologies.

While the transition to farm-scale cultivated meat is still in its early stages, RESPECTfarms is optimistic about the future. In partnership with Rabobank, they have projected that farm-based cultivated meat production could become economically viable within three to seven years, depending on the level of investment and the success of early pilot projects.

RESPECTfarms plans to enter the market with hybrid products, combining cultivated cells with plant-based ingredients to reduce costs and streamline production. The first hybrid products are expected to reach the market by 2030, with an estimated production cost of €4.88 per kilogram. These premium products will likely be marketed at around €9 per kilogram, targeting consumers who are willing to pay a premium for sustainable and ethically produced meat.

The broader goal is to eventually produce 100% cultivated meat on a farm scale, with each farm potentially producing around 100 metric tons of meat per year, comparable to the output of a traditional beef farm.

RESPECTfarms’ vision for cultivated meat farming has garnered international interest. Farmers in Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Poland, and even Brazil have expressed interest in adopting cultivated meat production as part of their operations. RESPECTfarms is currently collaborating with the FEASTS consortium to explore the desirability of cultivated meat farming in these countries, with plans to expand the model across Europe over the next 24 months.

The concept of farm-scale cultivated meat production offers a promising solution to the many challenges facing modern livestock farming. By allowing farmers to diversify their operations while reducing the environmental and societal costs of meat production, this model has the potential to transform the agricultural landscape.

RESPECTfarms is at the forefront of this movement, working with a range of partners to develop and implement farm-scale cultivated meat production. As the feasibility of this model continues to be explored, it is clear that cultivated meat farming could play a vital role in creating a more sustainable, resilient, and diverse global food system.

Farmers who are willing to embrace this new model may find themselves at the cutting edge of agricultural innovation, helping to shape the future of food production for generations to come.