Creating meat from cells is no longer the realm of science fiction: a Russian cosmonaut did it aboard the International Space Station, and it is just a matter of time before these products arrive in supermarkets.
Tests carried out in space in September led to the production of beef, rabbit and fish tissue using a 3D printer.
This new technology “could make long-term travel possible and renew space exploration,” to Mars for example, said Didier Toubia, the head of the Israeli startup Aleph Farms, which provided cells for the tests.
“But our goal is to sell meat on Earth,” he told AFP.
The idea “is not to replace traditional agriculture,” he said. “It’s about being a better alternative to factory farming.”
The first burger designed with cow stem cells was made by Mark Post, a Dutch scientist from Maastricht University, and presented in 2013. Several startups have since taken to the niche market.
The cost of production is still very high, and none of the products are available for sale.
