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Scoop
28-05-2025
- Health
- Scoop
As A Growing Social Movement And Self-Care Practice, Death Literacy Is Fostering Positive Conversations About The End
Press Release – Independent Media Institute The new self-care movement teaches death literacy as a life-enhancing practice. As global populations transition into what has been called the ' longevity society,' caring for the aging and dying has prompted the emergence of an unusual self-care movement promising improved quality of life as it anticipates death. Since its development and introduction, death literacy awareness has seen a steady organic rise, primarily due to the efforts of early adopters advocating for a ' new public health perspective ' that enhances end-of-life awareness and care. '[D]eath literacy is defined as the knowledge and skills that make it possible to understand and act upon the end-of-life and death care options,' according to a 2024 article in the journal Palliative Care and Social Practice, and its four foundational pillars: knowledge, skills, experiential learning, and social action. Although experts and people attest to the benefits of early introductory conversations about end-of-life, industrialized societies like the United States lost touch with end-of-life rituals and home funerals in the early 1900s. As a result, what was once a natural relationship with the ending of life evolved. The dying were consigned to hospitals and then transferred to funeral homes. Such distancing from dying led to denial, avoidance, and fear of the process. Origins: Defining Death Literacy A chance meeting in 2010 between clinical psychologist Kerrie Noonan and playwright Peta Murray led to the formation of The GroundSwell Project (TGP), an end-of-life educational initiative. Employing community-driven strategies to build awareness and momentum, TGP went on to launch Dying To Know Day (2013), an annual grassroots event encouraging open conversations about death and dying across Australia. By 2021, Proveda merged with TGP, integrating D2KDay into its portfolio of community resources. While casually researching nonmedical end-of-life educational resources late one night in 2015, I discovered this Australian grassroots organization using the term 'death literacy' to describe their mission. As a branding professional, I immediately recognized the power of this term as a positive change agent. Upon receiving permission from TGP's co-founders to introduce and represent the death literacy movement in North America, Bevival organized its first national grassroots D2KDusa campaign in August 2016. By then, Noonan had become a founding member of the Caring at End of Life research team at Western Sydney University and part of the pioneering research team that coined the term 'death literacy' and developed the Death Literacy Index in 2019. A Culture Change Moment The lure of transformation typically attracts early adopters who, in turn, inspire change through collaboration. To evangelize death literacy's mission, the movement attracted support from a wide range of critical stakeholders and change agents —creators, educators, entrepreneurs, academics, social scientists, and health care practitioners. Mindful of creativity's role in laying a foundation for culture change, these advocates took it upon themselves to foster public awareness with a cautious message about the economic and emotional consequences of living longer and dying slower. In the ensuing years, the death literacy awareness movement spawned many mission-driven organizations that endeavor to normalize dying, death, and grief as inevitable human experiences. Examples include Reimagine, End Well, my organization, Bevival, and influential individuals such as Dr. Ira Byock, Katy Butler, Frank Ostaseski, and many others. Collectively, we are helping to dimensionalize the term 'death literacy.' Setting the Stage: America's Aging Demographics The 2014 U.S. Census report pointed to an unprecedented population shift in America—an inflection point that announced the future of America's obsession with youth and consumerism belonged to three consecutive aging populations: primarily boomers, closely followed by Gen X and millennials. 'Between 2012 and 2050, the United States will experience considerable growth in its older population. … In 2050, the population aged 65 and over is projected to be 83.7 million, almost double its estimated population of 43.1 million in 2012,' stated the report. This unprecedented ' silver tsunami, ' with its unique macroeconomy, has led marketers to influence a wide range of consumer goods and services tailored to America's aging population. Popular magazines such as Time, AARP, and the New York Times began addressing our nation's emerging death consciousness. While some offered practical advice, such as the demise of social security and the rising cost of health care, others inspired readers with bucket lists and lifestyle stories highlighting the West Coast's youthful ' Death Positive Movement.' Death With Dignity Congruent with the movement promoting death literacy education, an important parallel initiative supporting the legalization of Medical Aid In Dying (MAID) has become legal in 11 states and Washington, D.C. The right to die conversation has been slowly making its way through individual state legislations spearheaded by Compassion & Choices, Death with Dignity, NHPCO, and End of Life Choices. As of 2025, states where legislation is under consideration include Delaware, Massachusetts, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. Peak 65 The U.S. Census named 2024 as the start of ' Peak 65,' a period that will last through 2027. Around 4.1 million Americans are expected to turn 65 each year from 2024 to 2027 (approximately 11,000 a day). By 2030, all baby boomers will be 65 or older. Implications of 'Peak 65' include: – Long-term care: According to a 2002 Health Services Research study, the trickle-down economics of aging will impact younger generations, who may need to become caretakers for their aging loved ones. 'The real challenges of caring for the elderly in 2030 will involve: 1) making sure society develops payment and insurance systems for long-term care that work better than existing ones, 2) taking advantage of advances in medicine and behavioral health to keep the elderly as healthy and active as possible, 3) changing the way society organizes community services so that care is more accessible, and 4) altering the cultural view of aging to make sure all ages are integrated into the fabric of community life.' – Labor gap: Retirement will cause a massive reduction in talent, leaving employers to lose expertise, and they may struggle to replace retiring workers. – Retirement: It's a well-known fact that many boomers are entering an underfunded retirement and will face challenges with dwindling finances. It is impossible to overstate how critical widespread death literacy adoption is for our society. As the demand for public-facing initiatives supporting end-of-life preparedness accelerates, ratification within professional environments validates the evolutionary arc of social transformation. By building proficient narrative long before the end, entire populations will be better served before, during, and after the passing of loved ones. Author Bio: Caren Martineau is the CEO and founder of Bevival, a death literacy content brand and movement dedicated to promoting death literacy. Find her online here at
Scoop
24-04-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Trump's Global Tariffs Are Meant For China
Article – Independent Media Institute The latest tariff blitz has China in the crosshairs. Building on earlier efforts by previous administrations, Trumps abrasiveness risks weakening Washingtons hand. Donald Trump's 'Liberation Day' on April 2, 2025, marked the formal launch of sweeping global tariffs, capping months of escalatory announcements since returning to office. Amplifying the economic nationalism of his first term, it marks the culmination of Trump's decades-old advocacy for raising tariffs and reviving American industry. His latest push builds on more than two decades of previous presidential efforts to recalibrate trade, in a far more aggressive form. Influenced by Project 2025's chapter on fair trade by longtime adviser Peter Navarro, it calls for rapid, uncompromising trade action to reduce deficits, lower debt, and reshore manufacturing. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has similarly framed tariffs as part of a larger economic realignment to restore U.S. industrial and economic dominance. Though rarely stated outright, Trump aims to break the dominance of China's export-led economic model, with the understanding that there will be some consequences for the U.S. economy. While his strategy builds on former efforts to reshape trade, the public's understanding of Trump's agenda and impression of its execution enjoys only modest domestic support. The gamble carries the risks of global economic destabilization, blowback from allies, and handing China even more power on the global stage. Protectionism, Free Trade, and Resurgent Skepticism From 1798 to 1913, tariffs covered 50 percent to 90 percent of income and shielded American industry from foreign competitors. After World War II, however, the U.S. aimed to rebuild allied economies and draw them away from communism by opening its consumer, industrial, and capital markets. Trade deficits emerged by the 1970s, but abandoning the gold standard in 1971 let the U.S. print dollars more easily and sustain the imbalance. The Cold War's end in the early 1990s left the U.S. confident it could continue steering global trade on its own terms. It pushed for global tariff cuts and free trade deals like the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), while U.S. corporations helped build up foreign manufacturing, particularly in China, which benefited from preferential trade terms under its most-favored-nation trade status. American consumers absorbed global overproduction, and corporate profits soared, but many American workers were increasingly left behind. These policies added to the anti-globalization movements of the late 1990s, most visibly at the 1999 World Trade Organization (WTO) summit in Seattle, prompting a rethink of trade policy. Domestic industries like steel had collapsed under cheap imports, and former President George W. Bush briefly imposed steel tariffs in 2002 before the WTO struck them down. The 2008 financial crisis brought bipartisan calls for economic restructuring, with the Obama administration pledging to reshore manufacturing jobs. Obama later distanced himself from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)—a free trade agreement—a move echoed by Hillary Clinton during her 2016 presidential campaign. Trump's first-term trade agenda broke from the previous caution. Favoring unilateral action, he withdrew from the TPP in 2017, clashed with the WTO, and renegotiated NAFTA. He then imposed tariffs on key trade partners, especially China. By then, the cost of offshoring had become clear. With U.S. corporate assistance, China had gained capital and technology expertise to become the ' world's factory.' Low-tariff access to the U.S. market gave Beijing a $300 billion surplus over America in 2024, and it emerged as the world's top exporter and creditor. President Biden struck a less confrontational tone upon assuming office in January 2021, yet he similarly raised tariffs on China. Like China, the EU and Japan had established large trade surpluses with the U.S., an issue he sought to address, but geopolitical unity with the U.S. on the global stage tempered criticism. Despite lowering tariffs on Europe, Biden nonetheless passed the Inflation Reduction Act and CHIPS and Science Act, both criticized by the EU as protectionist. Trump's second-term focus has again hit allies, yet the attention remains squarely on China, with individual tariffs on other countries being paused on April 9, while tariffs on Beijing have increased. Aside from direct exports, Washington also seeks to target China's role in global trade. Biden's push to 'nearshore' manufacturing to countries like Mexico exposed the limits of decoupling, as Chinese companies quickly established themselves in new Mexican industrial parks. Many imports shipped to the U.S. from other countries also contain Chinese components, meaning Trump's 10 percent ' baseline ' tariff hike on all imports is meant to counteract other countries serving as conduits for Chinese goods. In Project 2025, Peter Navarro emphasized the role of non-tariff barriers, like strict safety standards, customs delays, and local content requirements, in obstructing U.S. exports. The U.S. uses these, too, and in early February 2025, Trump cited fentanyl smuggling as justification for raising tariffs on China, Mexico, and Canada. Even if a more conventional president follows, Trump's tariff hikes and resulting supply chain rerouting may prove difficult to undo. Critics question whether this transition can be fast, affordable, or effective, but the COVID-19 pandemic proved supply chains can reorient under pressure relatively quickly, just as China showed its agility by setting up operations in Mexico during the 2020s. Internal Risks A tariff war will nonetheless raise prices for consumers and businesses, ending the era of cheap global goods that the U.S. economy has depended on for decades. Countries maintained friendly ties to keep consumer market access and reinvested U.S. dollars into American stocks, bonds, and real estate. Uncertainty over Trump's policies saw a fake tweet about tariffs on April 7 trigger multi-trillion-dollar swings. Prolonged stock volatility or declines would reduce pensions, household wealth, and corporate valuations. Some argue that if the stock markets crash, money could flow into and lower the price of U.S. treasuries, reducing their prices and allowing the government to refinance long-term bonds with cheaper debt. However, many traditional U.S. debt holders may demand concessions before continuing to finance it. Treasury yields have already risen, making new debt more expensive, and China, the second-largest holder of U.S. debt, is suspected of shedding bonds to help do so. China has also retaliated by raising its own tariffs and recently halting exports of rare earths and critical minerals essential for modern technologies. Its state-backed firms can flood global markets with cheap goods and advanced tech, squeezing out competitors. With a growing presence in international institutions and trade blocs, Beijing could increasingly shape global economic norms if these institutions and agreements become more fluid and the U.S. steps back. Trump also wants to devalue the dollar to make U.S. exports more competitive, but insists on keeping the dollar as the world's reserve currency, which eases access to cheap debt. His approach is undermining global confidence in the dollar, even if no clear alternative has emerged yet. Trump's pressure on a resistant Federal Reserve to cut interest rates further reflects limited borrowing options and coordination in U.S. financial policy as he embarks on major economic upheaval. Democrats have largely avoided serious condemnation of Trump's policies, recognizing it may be a losing political strategy. Still, some top members like Chuck Schumer and Gavin Newsom have marked early opposition, along with seven GOP senators who recently voted against Trump's Trade Review Act. Trump's policies have some support from the U.S. business class, which once saw China as a promising market but now sees it as a rival. No longer limited to cheap goods, Chinese companies like Temu, Shein, and BYD increasingly threaten giants like Amazon and Tesla. Any success in bringing manufacturing back will mostly come through automation instead of high-paying jobs, benefiting major U.S. corporations. Still, decades of cooperation with China means that these businesses remain exposed, with major corporate figures expressing public concern and Elon Musk publicly criticizing Peter Navarro's role in the tariff push. Trump has, in turn, framed tariffs not only as leverage over trading partners but also as a source of revenue to offset other taxes. His 2024 campaign called for cutting the corporate tax rate to 15 percent, down from 21 percent, already lowered from 35 percent during his first term. However, the promised economic boom was not evident before COVID-19 hit, and his suggestion of replacing personal income tax with tariff revenue is also unlikely to generate enough funds to do so, even in an optimistic scenario. And while the U.S. needs to expand production for both domestic use and exports, current capacity falls far short. Tariffs might push companies and consumers toward new habits, but blanket protection without government initiatives in infrastructure development, skills training, and research and development risks doing more harm than good, and leaves the private sector to act with little guidance. Compared to Trump's unpredictable approach, China and the EU have positioned themselves as stable anchors of the global economy. U.S. calls to coordinate with major economic allies like the EU and Japan to limit dealings with China, including reducing Chinese imports and preventing its companies from establishing themselves, risk falling on deaf ears as tariffs have strained ties. Global Risks Reducing access to U.S. consumers also threatens a major pillar of global economic stability. The U.S. accounted for roughly 13 percent of global import consumption in 2023, acting as a safety valve for global overproduction by absorbing excess goods. China, facing a property crisis, high youth unemployment, and mounting local government debt, has pledged to ' vigorously boost domestic consumption,' according to the People's Daily, to help replace American consumers. But its $300 billion trade surplus with the U.S. exemplifies its reliance and more limited leverage for retaliation. The EU has signaled it will not tolerate a flood of Chinese goods, as it, like the U.S., increasingly finds itself competing with China in high-end products. The EU and Canada have similarly raised tariffs on the U.S. The Trump administration has tested EU unity by courting globalization-skeptic allies like Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, though tensions are likely to deepen before they ease. Europe's struggle to sustain support for Ukraine against Russia has shown the perils of deindustrialization, a trend the U.S. now seeks to radically reverse ahead of others. And, by targeting allies with tariffs too, the U.S. ensures that any self-inflicted economic pain is matched abroad, making the cost of reshaping trade a shared burden. Forcing a global trade war—an escalating Canada-China tariff clash in 2025 is one encouraging sign—is likely to further weaken China's export-led model. As the U.S. signals a reduced role in safeguarding global maritime trade, already strained by disruptions like Houthi attacks in the Red Sea and rising piracy, geopolitical tensions could disrupt other key routes. Without U.S. intervention, free trade will face rising shipping and insurance costs. Trump frequently changed tactics in his first term, mixing threats with negotiations. If his tariff strategy falters, voices like Kent Lassman's in Project 2025, calling for a return to free trade, may gain traction. But Trump has been warning of trade imbalances since the 1980s, when Japan and West Germany were his main targets. He seems determined to make reversing it central to his legacy, this time focusing on China. Author Bio: John P. Ruehl is an Australian-American journalist living in Washington, D.C., and a world affairs correspondent for the Independent Media Institute. He is a contributor to several foreign affairs publications, and his book, Budget Superpower: How Russia Challenges the West With an Economy Smaller Than Texas', was published in December 2022.
Scoop
21-04-2025
- Health
- Scoop
How Lab-Grown Meat Could Bring An End To Needless Animal Cruelty
Press Release – Independent Media Institute Lab-grown meat is a sustainable and ethical alternative to traditional meat. It offers the same taste and texture while reducing animal suffering, environmental impact, and health risks. Billions of animals are killed each year to feed an unsustainable demand for meat. Lab-grown meat—also known as cultured, cultivated, cell-based, or clean meat—can offer a kinder alternative while still meeting the growing global demand for meat. Silicon Valley start-ups are racing to get lab-grown meat on the market. And with good reason. Bethan Grylls of Food Manufacture, a UK-based resource for food and drink processors, reports that GovGrant, a research and development tax relief consulting firm, 'anticipates that by 2040 cultured meat will make up 35 percent of global meat consumption, with conventional meat accounting for 40 percent and vegan meat alternatives the remaining 25 percent.' Cultured meat emerged in the early 2000s and is a miracle of modern science. Fish filets, burgers, and bacon produced in this way taste just as consumers would expect them to, but millions of animals don't need to be bred, confined, or slaughtered to create these actual meat products. How Is Lab-Grown Meat Made? The term 'lab-grown meat' might sound off-putting. However, labs are only involved in supporting ongoing research and development. Once they begin to produce at scale, cultured meat companies will swap out laboratories for facilities resembling microbreweries—a far cry from the industrial farms that profit from the abuse and slaughter of sentient animals. Instead of using slaughtered animals, lab-grown meat is made by carefully removing a few muscle cells from a living animal. The pain is typically relieved with local anesthesia. The animal experiences a momentary twinge of discomfort, not unlike the feeling of getting a routine blood test at the doctor's. Then, a lab technician places the harvested cells in bioreactors before adding them to a bath of nutrients. The cells grow and multiply, producing actual muscle tissue, which scientists shape into edible 'scaffoldings.' These scaffoldings can transform lab-grown cells into steaks, chicken nuggets, burger patties, and fish products. National University of Singapore scientists have even begun using sorghum grain to produce cultivated pork. These offerings could sway pork eaters who are wary of parasites and disease. The final product is an actual cut of meat, ready to be marinated, breaded, grilled, baked, or fried—no animal slaughter required! Cells from a single cow can produce an astonishing 175 million quarter-pounder burgers. Lab-Grown Meat Is More Humane and Sustainable Lab-grown meat is created from the same animal cells as traditional meat. The key distinction lies in the process—lab-grown meat eliminates the need for breeding, raising, and slaughtering animals, offering a more humane and sustainable alternative to conventional farming practices. One of the most compelling aspects of lab-grown meat is its potential to reduce animal suffering. By harvesting cells without killing the animal, this innovative approach addresses the ethical concerns of consumers who oppose factory farming and industrialized slaughterhouses. As Brian Spears, founder of New Age Meats, explains, 'People want meat. They don't want slaughter.' This sentiment reflects a growing demand for products that align with the values of compassion and sustainability without requiring individuals to give up their dietary preferences. In addition to its ethical appeal, lab-grown meat could serve as a practical solution for meeting the global demand for meat while addressing the environmental and health challenges associated with traditional meat production. Industrial farming is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation, and water pollution. By bypassing the need for large-scale animal agriculture, lab-grown meat has the potential to significantly reduce the industry's environmental footprint. Furthermore, it can be produced under controlled conditions that minimize health risks, such as antibiotic resistance and contamination from pathogens like E. coli. Lab-grown meat represents a revolutionary shift in how we think about food production. It merges scientific innovation with ethical and environmental consciousness, providing a tangible alternative to unsustainable practices. At the same time, it is not without challenges, such as high production costs and reliance on inevitable animal-derived by-products. Ongoing technological advancements and scaling promise to address these hurdles. For many, enjoying real meat without traditional methods' moral and environmental consequences offers a hopeful glimpse into a future where food choices are both satisfying and responsible. Cultured Meat Is Not Artificial Lab-grown meat isn't artificial meat—it's real meat produced in a new, innovative way. One of the most exciting aspects of lab-grown meat is its ability to replicate the taste, texture, and appearance of conventionally produced meat. Scientists are continually refining techniques to ensure that lab-cultivated muscle tissue mimics the sensory qualities consumers expect from products like steak, chicken, and bacon. From marbled beef to flaky fish fillets, lab-grown meat offers a near-identical eating experience to traditional meat while eliminating the need for breeding, confining, and slaughtering animals. This innovation provides meat lovers with an option that aligns with their dietary preferences and ethical concerns. Thanks to this breakthrough, consumers can enjoy the foods they already love without contributing to the cruelty and environmental damage inherent in factory farming. Lab-grown meat allows people to indulge in burgers, chicken wings, or pork chops with the peace of mind that no animal endured suffering to create their meal. As this technology scales and becomes more accessible, it can transform global food systems by providing a sustainable and humane way to meet the world's growing appetite for meat. Healthier Alternative Meat consumption has long been associated with health risks, mainly due to meat's high levels of cholesterol and saturated fat, which can contribute to conditions like heart disease and obesity. Traditional meat production provides little control over these factors, as the fat content of an animal's meat is determined by its diet and genetics. However, lab-grown meat offers a unique opportunity to address these health concerns at their source. By cultivating meat in a controlled environment, food scientists can precisely regulate its nutritional composition, reducing harmful cholesterol and saturated fat levels while retaining the flavor and texture consumers expect. This ability to engineer healthier cuts of meat could make lab-grown products a game-changer for public health. For example, lab-grown meat can be tailored to include healthier fats, such as omega-3 fatty acids, typically found in fish and known to support heart and brain health. Additionally, lab-grown meat could mitigate the growing threat of antibiotic resistance. Since the animals are not kept in filthy factory farms or bred in painful, disease-prone ways to maximize meat production, there is far less need for antibiotic treatment. Plus, lab-grown meat is pretty resilient against bacteria like E. coli. Thus, lab-grown meat will offer new options to consumers looking for better proteins for their health, the planet, and animals. By offering a nutritionally improved and safer alternative, lab-grown meat can revolutionize how we think about meat consumption and its impact on our well-being. Better for the Environment Industrial animal farming significantly contributes to some of the planet's most pressing environmental issues. From climate change to deforestation and water pollution, the environmental toll of raising billions of animals for meat for a skyrocketing human population is staggering. According to the United Nations, animal agriculture accounts for 14.5 percent of the world's greenhouse gas emissions, a figure that rivals emissions from the entire transportation sector. Industrial farming releases methane, a potent greenhouse gas, and drives deforestation to create grazing land and grow feed crops, further exacerbating the climate crisis. Lab-grown meat presents an innovative solution to these challenges by eliminating the need for large-scale animal agriculture. One of lab-grown meat's most notable environmental benefits is its significantly lower resource footprint than that of conventional meat production. While some lab-grown meat producers currently rely on fossil fuels to power their operations, the process still uses far less land, water, and energy than raising animals on factory farms. Cultivating meat from animal cells does not require clearing forests for pastures or growing massive quantities of feed crops. The production process not only conserves natural ecosystems but also reduces the water and fertilizer usage that often pollutes local water supplies. As production methods evolve, transitioning lab-grown meat facilities to renewable energy sources could make them even more sustainable. Studies show that producing lab-grown meat using renewable energy would have a significantly lower carbon footprint than even the most 'sustainably raised' traditional meat products. The potential environmental benefits of lab-grown meat extend beyond reduced resource consumption. It bypasses traditional farming practices and avoids many adverse side effects associated with industrial agriculture, such as soil degradation, water contamination from animal waste, and habitat destruction. By offering a cleaner and more sustainable way to produce meat, lab-grown meat has the potential to drastically reduce the environmental impact of meat consumption. As this technology continues to advance and scale up, it could play a critical role in mitigating climate change and preserving the planet's natural resources for future generations. Lab-Grown Meat Is Not Vegan Lab-grown meat is not technically vegan because it involves using cells taken from living animals. While these animals are not killed in the process, the act of harvesting cells places lab-grown meat outside the realm of purely plant-based or vegan products. However, the primary goal of lab-grown meat is not to replace vegan options but to provide a viable alternative for meat-eaters who are concerned about the ethical and environmental consequences of traditional factory farming. This innovation bridges the gap between ethical concerns and dietary preferences by offering a way to enjoy real meat without causing extensive harm to animals or the planet. Lab-grown meat is specifically designed to appeal to consumers who might be hesitant to adopt plant-based alternatives but are nonetheless troubled by industrial agriculture practices. As Damian Carrington of the Guardian explains, 'The companies developing lab-grown meat believe this is the product most likely to wean committed meat-eaters off traditional sources.' For many, the idea of consuming meat without contributing to animal suffering, confinement, and slaughter is a compelling proposition. Furthermore, lab-grown meat offers the potential for health benefits and a reduced environmental footprint, making it an increasingly attractive choice for ethically and environmentally conscious consumers. While lab-grown meat still requires keeping animals in captivity, the scale of this practice is drastically smaller than that of traditional factory farming. Instead of raising thousands of animals in confined, inhumane conditions, cellular agriculture relies on small herds from which cells can be periodically harvested. This significant reduction in the number of animals used can significantly diminish the suffering caused by meat production on a global scale. Additionally, because animals are not slaughtered, the process of harvesting cells avoids the emotional and physical trauma typically associated with traditional farming practices. The widespread adoption of lab-grown meat could mark a turning point in how society approaches food production and animal welfare. By reducing the reliance on factory farms and minimizing the number of animals needed for meat production, lab-grown meat represents a more humane and sustainable future for food systems. With continued technological advancements, increased public awareness, and support for ethical alternatives, the vision of lab-grown meat becoming a mainstream option could help shift global consumption patterns and pave the way for a more sustainable world. Lab-Grown Meat Isn't Perfect Lab-grown meat isn't perfect—yet. Some lab-grown meat is created using an animal by-product known as fetal bovine serum. Slaughterhouses obtain fetal bovine serum by collecting blood from the unborn calves of pregnant cows after they're killed. San Francisco-based lab-grown meat producer Eat Just uses a 'very low level' serum in its chicken, the first lab-grown meat product to hit the market. In response to ethical concerns about using a slaughterhouse by-product in otherwise lab-grown meat, Eat Just is developing an animal-free alternative to fetal bovine serum. Another controversy surrounding lab-grown meat is its price—some companies charge around $50 per serving, significantly more expensive than conventional meat. Hopefully, prices will drop as companies scale up operations, making it more accessible. A 2024 study in Nature Food Journal projects that cultivated chicken will cost $6.20 per pound, given the proper production scale. This is competitive with the current cost of traditional organic chicken. Lab-Grown Meat Availability In 2020, the Singapore government approved the sale of lab-grown meats, giving consumers in Singapore the first chance to taste lab-grown chicken. But as of March 2025, lab-grown meat is not readily available to American consumers. Lab-grown meat companies are working to perfect their products, lower costs, and scale up. More consumers worldwide should soon get their first taste of lab-grown meat. In 2023, the U.S. approved sales of lab-grown meat, though Florida and Alabama have banned the product from grocery store shelves. Tyson Foods, one of the world's ten largest meat processors, has invested millions in Future Meat Technologies, which indicates a demand for meat industry support. Until lab-grown meat hits the market, leaving animals off our plates is the kindest thing we can do. Author Bio: Laurie Wills is the lead grassroots campaign coordinator for the Humane League UK, based in Cornwall, the United Kingdom.
