April 22, 2008

PETA offers US$1 million for in-vitro meat production
 

Animal rights group PETA is offering a US$1 million reward for anyone who could produce in-vitro meat by 2012.

One of the criteria is that the in-vitro meat has to look and taste like the real meat.

The challenge?

To produce in-vitro chicken, put it into commercial production and successfully sell it to at least 10 US states at a competitive price.

Teams of researchers worldwide are already working on it, but it could take several years to have the result that PETA wants.

To win the reward, a team of 10 PETA jurors would taste the entries to ensure that the meat matches the texture and flavour of a farmed chicken, and that the entries must score at least 80 out of 100 points.

The plan has caused certain unhappiness in the organisation, according to a report by the New York Times, but PETA said this project would help to avoid unnecessary sufferings for the animals.

More than 40 billion of livestock and fish are slaughtered each year for food in the US, and in-vitro meat would spare them from this suffering, according to a PETA statement.

PETA added that in-vitro meat could also significantly reduce environmental damage and that such meat could give consumers the access to meat that doesn't cause suffering and death.