Land use

 

The land use requirements of cultured meat production depend on the sources of feedstock used to provide nutrients for the cells.

 

Estimates that rely on highly efficient production systems for cultured meat (e.g. using blue-green algae as a source of nutrients) indicate that land use requirements would be lower for cultured meat compared to beef and chicken.[1] But the results are more uncertain if conventional ‘feed’ inputs to cultured meat, such as soy and corn, are used.[2]

 

Compared to livestock production, land use is lower than for beef and poultry,[3] but if the protein content of the product is taken into account, land use for poultry is similar to cultured meat due to the high stocking densities of modern poultry production.[4]

 

Water use

 

Estimates of the potential water use of cultured meat depend on the water footprint method used (i.e. the mix of green water (rainwater), blue water (extracted surface- and ground water) and grey water (wastewater)).[5] Available life-cycle assessments (LCAs) indicate that, similar to land use, this production process will use significantly less water than for beef production.[6] However, it may be higher than or similar to poultry production.[7]

 

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions

 

Cultured meat production is a highly energy intensive process, with consequent potential impacts in terms of CO2 emissions. Some estimates suggest that when factoring in the relevant emissions, cultured meat production could have a lower GHG footprint than beef – potentially by more than 75%.[8] But the emissions could be higher than for the most efficient poultry production systems.[9]

 

Using renewable energy sources during the production process could reduce emissions further, but cultured meat is still expected to emit similar levels to conventional chicken.[10] However, the efficiencies of cultured meat production may be improved with technological developments.

 

Waste

 

The potential waste streams from cultured meat production are lactate and ammonia that are byproducts of cell metabolism, leftover nutrient medium and wastewater from washing the bioreactors.[11]

 

The lactate and ammonia can be potentially extracted and used for other production processes. Possibilities for recycling the unused medium are being investigated. One LCA estimated that the risk of eutrophication[12] from cultured meat is substantially lower than for beef production but not compared with poultry.[13]