Texas Lab-Grown Meat Ban Takes Effect, Industry Sues Over Restrictions

Texas Banned Lab-Grown Meat: Industry Faces New Barriers A two-year ban on lab-grown meat took effect in Texas on September 1, joining six other US states and Italy in prohibiting the technology. The following day, two companies, Wildtype Foods and Upside Foods, filed a lawsuit against state officials, challenging the ban. The ban is part of a growing trend to regulate the emerging industry, which aims to bring new types of food to consumers' plates without the need for animal slaughter. Lab-grown meat, also known as cultivated meat, takes live animal cells and grows them in a lab to create food products. The technology has been touted as a potential solution to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture. According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, livestock alone accounts for between 10% and 20% of global climate pollution. Alternative meat products, including those grown in a lab, could help mitigate this issue. "We believe that cultivated meat is a game-changer for the food industry," said Ryan Pandya, co-founder and CEO of Wildtype Foods. "It's a more sustainable and humane way to produce meat, and we're committed to making it accessible to consumers." The lawsuit filed by Wildtype Foods and Upside Foods argues that the ban on lab-grown meat is unconstitutional and stifles innovation in the industry. "The ban on cultivated meat is a setback for Texas and its residents," said Uma Valeti, co-founder and CEO of Upside Foods. "We're confident that our technology will prevail in court and bring more sustainable options to consumers." The ban has raised concerns among environmentalists and food advocates who see lab-grown meat as a potential solution to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture. "The agriculture sector is one of the largest contributors to climate change, and we need innovative solutions like lab-grown meat to address this issue," said Dr. Jennifer Pomeranz, an expert on food policy at New York University. The lawsuit is ongoing, but the ban has already had a ripple effect on the industry. Companies are looking for alternative ways to bring their products to market, including partnering with other states or countries that have more favorable regulations. As the case unfolds, one thing is clear: lab-grown meat is here to stay, and its potential impact on the food industry and the environment will be significant in the years to come. *Reporting by Technologyreview.*