Speaking ahead of the ProVeg New Food Conference next month at the Kalkscheune venue in Berlin, Germany, Post said the meat industry was beginning to recognise that conventional livestock farming would not be able to meet the world’s growing demand for meat and was thus looking to diversify its range of protein sources.
With the growing number of traditional meat processors merging into the meat alternatives sector, Post added that there were plans for Mosa Meat to collaborate with meat companies to accelerate the introduction of cultured meat to the market and to make it available on a wider scale as soon as possible.
“Several animal producers have invested in cellular agriculture start-ups: Tyson Foods and Cargill in Memphis Meats, Bell Food Group in Mosa Meat and PHW in SuperMeat, to name just a few,” said Post.
“We expect an introduction of cultured meat on a small scale market in the next three to four years. Since, due to its novelty, it will be relatively expensive in the beginning, it will most likely be available first at selected gourmet restaurants. But we expect prices to significantly drop within the next decade, so that it will be competitive and able to find its place on supermarket shelves next to livestock meat products. Eventually, cultured meat will become more affordable due to its higher production efficiency.”
Post will be one of the keynote speakers at ProVeg’s New Food Conference from next month and he said the event would contribute to shaping the European landscape, as well as well raising positive public awareness around the issue.
“By bringing together international stakeholders from the food industry, along with start-ups, investors, scientists, as well as the media and politicians, the conference creates a platform for networking, exchange and critical discussions – all essential elements for the successful promotion of a business. In my talk, I will focus on the latest scientific developments in the clean-meat sector as well as the challenges we need to address.”
The ProVeg New Food Conference will be spread across two days, 21 and 22 March, and will involve industry experts from around the globe to talk about the developments of the meat alternative sector, including plant-based proteins and cultured meat.