Season 7, Post 13: Muscling in on lab-grown meat
Lab-grown meat is one of the many things that Donald Trump dislikes. Whether he’s tasted it is, of course, a different matter. Not seeking to get one up on the US President, but your author did try cultivated (as lab-grown products are sometimes referred to euphemistically) salmon when in the States last year. Even if certain products have been approved by regulators, this does not always equate to them being in stores or restaurants. However, the lab-grown debate is not going to go away any time soon.
We all need to eat and there is not enough food to go around. This is arguably the most profound challenge faced globally. Lab-grown products may logically provide part of the solution, as we have discussed for some time. To get the latest perspectives on the debate, we listened to a recent podcast with one of the experts: Darren Player, an Associate Professor in Musculoskeletal Bioengineering at University College London.
Listeners were reminded that any meat that we eat “is just skeletal muscle.” Understand this, and it is easier first to develop, and then to eat lab-grown meat. Rest assured, all products developed in a laboratory will come from their own base source – cultivated chicken is grown from chicken cells, and so on. With stem cell technology, the scope for replication is “potentially indefinite.” This should be good news in the face of food crises.
Two major problems remain: “both scientists and consumers need to be willing.” Begin with the former. The debate is not whether lab-grown projects work – they do – but over the extent to which they can be scaled, which would inevitably bring production costs down. For consumers, the issue relates to “challenging the paradigm” or getting their heads around eating products grown in a laboratory. Your author has no qualms, but the debate can arguably be won using arguments relating to better human, animal and environmental welfare. We would eat superior quality meat (since only the best cells would be selected for lab use), fewer animals would be killed, and less land would be occupied with farming. Lab-grown “won’t provide all the answers”, but “we can all make better food choices.”
10 April 2025
The above does not constitute investment advice and is the sole opinion of the author at the time of publication. Past performance is no guide to future performance and the value of investments and income from them can fall as well as rise.
Click to here view all Blog posts.
Alex Gunz, Fund Manager
Disclaimers
The document is provided for information purposes only and does not constitute investment advice or any recommendation to buy, or sell or otherwise transact in any investments. The document is not intended to be construed as investment research. The contents of this document are based upon sources of information which Heptagon Capital LLP believes to be reliable. However, except to the extent required by applicable law or regulations, no guarantee, warranty or representation (express or implied) is given as to the accuracy or completeness of this document or its contents and, Heptagon Capital LLP, its affiliate companies and its members, officers, employees, agents and advisors do not accept any liability or responsibility in respect of the information or any views expressed herein. Opinions expressed whether in general or in both on the performance of individual investments and in a wider economic context represent the views of the contributor at the time of preparation. Where this document provides forward-looking statements which are based on relevant reports, current opinions, expectations and projections, actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. All opinions and estimates included in the document are subject to change without notice and Heptagon Capital LLP is under no obligation to update or revise information contained in the document. Furthermore, Heptagon Capital LLP disclaims any liability for any loss, damage, costs or expenses (including direct, indirect, special and consequential) howsoever arising which any person may suffer or incur as a result of viewing or utilising any information included in this document.
The document is protected by copyright. The use of any trademarks and logos displayed in the document without Heptagon Capital LLP’s prior written consent is strictly prohibited. Information in the document must not be published or redistributed without Heptagon Capital LLP’s prior written consent.
Heptagon Capital LLP, 63 Brook Street, Mayfair, London W1K 4HS
tel +44 20 7070 1800
email [email protected]
Partnership No: OC307355 Registered in England and Wales Authorised & Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority
Heptagon Capital Limited is licenced to conduct investment services by the Malta Financial Services Authority.
