"Majority in favor"

Austrians want lab-grown meat on their plates

Agriculture Minister Norbert Totschnig (ÖVP) is skeptical about lab-grown meat, but many Austrians would apparently have no problem with it on their plates.

(Bild: tilialucida - stock.adobe.com, Krone KREATIV)

According to a recent online survey, 63% of Austrians are in favor of the approval of so-called lab-grown meat, provided it has been found to be safe. Agriculture Minister Norbert Totschnig warns against "becoming blindly dependent on a few large international corporations when it comes to food". The Farmers' Union also reacted with shock and already questioned the seriousness of the survey.

Laboratory meat - i.e. meat grown in a test tube - yes or no? Opinions are divided, according to the results of the YouGov opinion research institute, which surveyed 1000 people on behalf of the Good Food Institute Europe think tank.

59 percent of Austrians reported that they had heard of lab-grown meat, 63 percent would be in favor of approval under certain conditions and 42 percent would try lab-grown meat at least once.

Of the under-35s and flexitarians - so-called flexible vegetarians who reject mass-produced meat - even more than half said the same: 66% think that "cultured meat" should also be produced in Austria if it comes onto the market.

"Huge lobby"
Agriculture Minister Norbert Totschnig (ÖVP) was immediately skeptical after the survey became public: "There is a huge industry lobby behind lab-grown meat. It's about the question of whether we want to feed ourselves with artificial meat from the factory or with natural, regional food in the future."

"Industrial laboratory meat" is at odds with "our family farms and our natural food production. Ingredients and methods are used here whose effects on humans, animals and the environment are not yet fully known".

Agriculture Minister Norbert Totschnig (ÖVP) is skeptical about laboratory meat, but many Austrians apparently have no problem with it on their plates.

(Bild: APA/GEORG HOCHMUTH)

Totschnig called for a broad discussion as well as transparency and a comprehensive impact assessment in the EU. Otherwise, "we risk becoming blindly dependent on a few large international corporations when it comes to food". Together with Italy and France, "I have therefore called for a broad discussion at EU level before the threat of market approval", said the Minister. "Austria's initiative was supported by 18 EU countries."

Survey "not serious"
The Farmers' Union is also up in arms. President Georg Strasser even described the results as dubious: "This online survey is not representative and was launched by an NGO that has set itself the goal of demonizing natural food production." This would fuel "worries and fears among our sustainably producing farming families".

"Biased questions are being used to deliberately provoke a result that is intended to point in a certain direction. This is a declaration of war and we do not want to allow this battle to be fought on the backs of our farmers." Agriculture and its significant contribution to climate and environmental protection should not be denigrated, said Strasser.

The other results of the controversial survey: in general, there is great interest in more "sustainable" forms of nutrition. 59% believe that too many animal products are consumed. 47 percent would like to see alternatives to meat, fish, eggs and dairy products.

30 percent of the 1,000 or so respondents stated that they themselves would like to consume more plant-based meat alternatives in the next two years, and 28 percent more plant-based dairy alternatives.

60 percent think that "politicians should stop discriminating against plant-based milk alternatives in terms of VAT".

According to the survey, 66% think that "cultured meat" should also be produced in Austria when it comes onto the market.

(Bild: tilialucida - stock.adobe.com)

Changing consumption habits
There is also interest in changing consumer habits in Austria beyond lab-grown meat: "46% of respondents say they want to consume fewer animal products in the next two years." This mainly concerns plant-based options to meat or dairy products.

53% hope that farmers will be supported in switching to a higher proportion of plant-based foods. 50 percent want to see the proportion of plant-based products in public canteens increased, for example in schools and hospitals

Stammzellen erforderlich

Wie Laborfleisch „gezüchtet“ wird

The production of laboratory meat requires stem cells obtained from the muscle tissue of a living animal. In the laboratory, the cells are enriched in a container with a nutrient solution. A growth serum is also required to multiply them.

In the technologies frequently used to date, this has been blood taken from calf fetuses. Both the fetus and the mother animal die during the extraction process. However, research is already being carried out into methods that do not require this fetal calf serum.

Once enough cells have grown, the end product is shaped using a meat grinder or a 3D printer. This is then used to make burger patties or nuggets, for example. Last July, Italy was the first country in the EU to vote in favor of a ban on food from cell cultures. This reignited the debate in Europe.