OPINION:
I was thrilled to learn that the U.S. Department of Agriculture is giving $10 million over five years to Tufts University, which will establish a National Institute for Cellular Agriculture. This institute will conduct open-access research into cultivated meat. For those who don’t know, cultivated meat is grown from cells, without slaughter. It’s better for the environment, public health and animal welfare.
House Appropriations Committee Chair Rep. Rosa DeLauro said, “USDA’s historic funding for a National Institute for Cellular Agriculture is an important advancement for cultivated meat research and science. I am pleased that USDA’s leadership continues to recognise the important role these technologies can play in combating climate change and adding much needed resiliency to our food system.”
As wonderful as this news is, a greater investment is needed to achieve price parity and surmount other obstacles. Given the cultivated meat’s potential to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions, pandemic risk and animal suffering, the government should be allocating billions of dollars to the effort, not millions. I hope legislators will increase funding in the near future.
JON HOCHSCHARTNER
Granby, Conn.
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