Working with farmers to identify the threats and opportunities of cultured meat technology

Ensuring farmers' voices, concerns and expertise are considered in research
Scientist adding dye to a Petri dish of cultured meat

Overview

The Cultured Meat and Farmers project aims to identify the potential impacts of cultured meat technology on rural communities, farms and other agricultural businesses. Working with those potentially affected ensures farmers' voices and concerns are considered in research, while acknowledging their knowledge and farming expertise. The findings may help shape recommendations for farmers, policy makers and investors, while increasing the likelihood that farmers see the benefits of cultured meat production if this is introduced in the UK (TUKFS 2023).
Cultured meat, also described as cultivated or lab-grown meat, is engineered animal tissue, intended for people to eat as an alternative source of protein.

People involved

The project team includes experts in cultured meat technology (Cellular Agriculture Ltd), interdisciplinary researchers from engineering, animal health, social and environmental science, with farming associations, food companies and a network of industry and non-governmental organisations also advising the project. Working with:
  • ~75 farmers from a variety of farm types and locations around the UK in six focus groups to assess attitudes to cultured meat.
  • Eight farms providing illustrative cases for different farm sectors (including large scale pig/poultry; conventional beef and lamb; pasture-fed/organic livestock; rare breed/pedigree livestock; dairy; fruit & vegetable; arable).

Key project activities

Six focus groups
Explored farmer attitudes to cultured meat, as well as discussing the potential threats and opportunities for different farm types.
Recruitment of case farms
Farms were selected to provide illustrative cases for different sector types.
Farm site visits
Researchers are also 'teaming up' with eight case farms in a process of co-design. The team, including an expert in cultured meat technology, a farm advisor, and an energy efficiency specialist, are visiting each farm and working with farmers to map farm resources, building infrastructure, road access, water and energy use, and business capacity. Following this, an in-depth interview with the farming team will assess the initial findings and explore the farm team's appetite for change, risk, and a future with or without cultured meat.
Life cycle assessment and identification of opportunities for each farm
Data gathered through conversations and site visits will inform a life cycle assessment (LCA), providing predictions of the potential environmental and economic consequences of maintaining current practice compared with alternative business pathways.
Final dissemination workshop
Researchers will facilitate an interactive workshop with the partner farmers from the eight case farms to share findings, provide opportunities for peer discussion, and meet with policymakers and potential investors in cultured meat technology.

Co-production principles

Power

Within focus group discussions, the researcher felt it was advantageous that they themselves were not an expert in cultured meat, so participating farmers could feel more relaxed about sharing concerns or scepticism about the cultured meat technology and products. Facilitation skills were also thought to be helpful to ensure:
"... people get something out of it and being aware of tensions, or overpowering people, or quiet people." (Researcher, Cultured Meat)

Reflection and reflexivity

Discussions with farmers in the focus groups identified issues not previously considered by the research team, including the potential impact of cultured meat technologies on dairy farmers. Other partners identified potential opportunities from abattoir waste products. This informed research plans regarding the selection of case farms to include in site visits.
"We're trying to understand what the risks and opportunities might be. And there are quite remarkable opportunities right now which I was unaware of, so we’re definitely going on a learning curve together." (Researcher, Cultured Meat)

Relationships

Existing relationships and trusted networks were recognised as highly valuable for recruitment of focus group participants and case farms. Previous researcher experience of working in farming was considered important for building trust, as was clear communication about the benefits of participation.
Each of the eight case farms will be resourced to cover farmers' time and costs. Researchers will also feed back findings, including potential business insights that could help farmers adapt or innovate in response to cultured meat or other issues, as well as providing opportunities to meet with investors.

Inclusivity

The research team noted the importance of tailoring communication and data collection methods according to individual farmer preferences (e.g., using WhatsApp, phone calls and conversations rather than computer-based or academic documents to share or request information) and avoiding use of unfamiliar language.
 

Find out more about this project

Related references

Manning, L., Dooley, J. J., Dunsford, I., Goodman, M.K., Macmillan, T. C., Morgans, L. C., Rose, D. C., and Sexton, A. E. (2023). 'Threat or opportunity? An analysis of perceptions of cultured meat in the UK farming sector', Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 7. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2023.1277511
Royal Agricultural University (2023). 'Cultured meat and your farm business webinar', Accessed 26 September 2023. https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=3yAw7q-7coQ
TUKFS (2023). 'Is cultured meat a threat or opportunity for UK farmers?', Transforming UK Food Systems Strategic Priorities Fund. https://ukfoodsystems.ukri.org/research-projects-training-reports/cultured-meat/