June 14, 2024

US cattle organisation upset over research grant backing development of lab-grown meat

The National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) in the United States has slammed a research grant sponsored by the country's Department of Defense (DOD) as the grant will fund the development of lab-grown meat products by manufacturing company BioMADE.

"It is outrageous that the Department of Defense is spending millions of taxpayer dollars to feed our heroes like lab rats," said NCBA Vice President of Government Affairs Ethan Lane. "US cattle producers raise the highest-quality beef in the world, with the lowest carbon footprint – and American troops deserve to be served that same wholesome, natural meat and not ultra-processed, lab-grown protein that is cooked up in a chemical-filled bioreactor."

Lane characterised the research project as "misguided" and "a giant slap in the face" to US military service members .

- NCBA