Laboratory meat! JBS shakes up global industry by announcing technology capable of producing real meat without having to slaughter animals

JBS is about to transform the food industry with its new cultured meat factory. However, environmental and ethical issues raise doubts about the true sustainability of this innovation. Is laboratory meat the future or just another technological illusion?

Imagine being able to enjoy a succulent piece of meat without any animal having to be slaughtered. This idea that seemed like science fiction is about to become a reality, and one of the largest food industries in the world, JBS, is at the forefront of this revolution.

While traditional meat production faces environmental and ethical challenges, lab-grown meat emerges as a futuristic solution that promises to transform the global food industry. But is this innovation really the answer to the problems of the modern world?

JBS's leadership in the cultured meat market

Food giant JBS recently shook up the industry by announcing the construction of the country's first commercial-scale cultured meat factory. Biotech Foods, in Spain, where the Brazilian company holds 51% of the shares.

This unit, which will be the largest in the world in cultivated meat production, is expected to begin operations in 2024, with an initial production capacity of more than a thousand tons of protein per year. The expectation is that this capacity can be expanded to 4 thousand tons per year in the medium term, strengthening JBS' position as a global leader in alternative proteins.

According to Eduardo Noronha, director of the Value Added Business Unit at JBS USA and responsible for the company's cultured protein strategy, the new BioTech plant puts JBS in a unique position to lead the segment and ride this wave of innovation.

The San Sebastián facility will allow BioTech Foods to offer cultured meat as an innovative product, meeting growing consumer demand for healthy, tasty and sustainable food.

Global expansion and sustainable commitments

The construction of the factory in Spain is just part of JBS's ambitious plans. In addition to this venture, the company plans to build a state-of-the-art center for biotechnology and cultured protein research and development in Florianópolis, Brazil, with an estimated investment of US$60 million. The objective of this center is to develop 100% Brazilian cutting-edge technology for the production of alternative proteins, reinforcing the JBS commitment with innovation and sustainability.

JBS also plans to gradually expand BioTech Foods' production capacity to meet growing demand in key markets such as Australia, Brazil, the European Union, Japan, Singapore and the United States.

With this initiative, the company not only reaffirms its commitment to sustainable production, but also seeks to boost global food security by offering innovative protein options that are aligned with consumer demands..

Cultured meat challenges and controversies

Despite optimism and promises of more sustainable production, lab-grown meat still faces significant challenges. A recent study pointed out that meat produced from animal cells can emit up to 25 times more greenhouse gases per kilogram compared to traditional meat. This calls into question one of the main environmental advantages that cultured meat promised to offer.

Furthermore, cultured meat production still relies on animal blood serum to grow cells, which raises ethical and practical questions. The use of this culture medium is a barrier that needs to be overcome so that laboratory meat becomes truly sustainable and ethical.. The study authors suggest that, for cultured meat production bioreactors to be brought to an industrial scale, it is necessary to innovate and find alternatives to animal serum, such as a plant-derived base.

Still, for those who consider it unethical to raise and kill animals for food, cultured meat remains a more morally acceptable alternative to traditional animal agriculture.. However, the path to 100% ethical and sustainable meat production is still long and full of technological and economic challenges.

The future of food: innovation or illusion?

JBS and other food companies are betting big on cultured meat as a solution to food security and sustainability challenges.

With significant investment and the promise of large-scale production, lab-grown meat could soon be on the plates of consumers around the world.. However, environmental, ethical and technological issues still need to be resolved for this innovation to fulfill all its promises.

Cultured meat has the potential to transform the way the world produces and consumes food, but can the challenges be overcome in time to meet the growing global demand for protein?

And you, would you be willing to try laboratory meat knowing the challenges and controversies behind this technology?