Producing artificial meat from ... stem cells

No need for livestock and no need for slaughterhouses . Dutch scientists are experimenting to produce pork from . stem cells! This study aims to replace meat from cattle with meat produced from stem cells, to contribute to limiting adverse environmental effects caused by livestock.

Bernard Roelen, a professor of veterinary medicine at Utrecht University in the Netherlands, said: 'We are trying to produce meat without having to raise cattle and kill them for meat'.

According to the production process, experts will first isolate stem cells - the type of cells that can develop into muscle cells. They will then stimulate cell growth, provide them with nutrients and use an electric current to help them grow into muscle tissue. Next, scientists have to find ways to arrange muscle tissue layers to form muscle fibers, and then to create fat and flavor .

Meat production from stem cells will contribute to limiting adverse environmental effects caused by livestock.(Artwork: Reuters)

Experts believe that the production of meat from stem cells will help reduce demand for livestock, transportation, animal feed, and also limit methane gas released by cattle. According to the research team, all of these factors are harmful to the environment.

Asked if consumers support meat produced in the lab, Mr. Roelen said he believes there will be a certain need for this type of meat, because most of the foods people eat every day. These are also processed foods.

However, according to him, 'there may also be some people who do not like this kind of meat because they think it is artificial meat'.

According to Mr. Roelen, the study will also include an experiment to consider the possibility of using this type of meat for astronauts during extended space expeditions. This test will be funded by the US Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

According to the research team, it takes several years for the lab-produced meat to be available to the public at grocery stores. Now, Mr. Roelen and his colleagues have only created thin cell layers of pork.

In developed countries, the demand for meat consumption per capita this year is estimated at 43 kg, including poultry, beef, pork and others.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), this demand increases by about 2% annually.

Minh Quang