Is it Time to Rethink Cultivated Meat?

This panel takes a clear-eyed look at the cultivated meat sector as it moves beyond early hype and into a phase of reassessment. Once positioned as a fast, inevitable solution to global protein demand, cultivated meat is now facing significant commercial and technical challenges that have slowed progress and tempered expectations.

The discussion will examine the key barriers driving this rethink. High production costs—particularly for growth media—and the difficulty of scaling from laboratory systems to large, food-grade manufacturing facilities remain major obstacles to price parity with conventional meat. Panelists will also address sustainability concerns, including the high energy demands of biomanufacturing and how reliance on fossil fuels could undermine climate benefits.

With investment cooling after missed timelines and rising capital requirements, companies are being forced to revisit their strategies. The session asks whether the future lies in hybrid approaches, lower-cost ingredients, or closer collaboration with conventional agriculture.