Cell Based Tech Weekly – CRISPR Assisting Cell Tissue Growth, Frontiers Surveys Consumers in USA India and China, USA Regulation Team Growing

Cell based meat companies, New Age Meats and Memphis Meats are employing gene editing tool CRISPR to assist in cell tissue growth. http://cellbased.link/997ab

Why We Care: CRISPR could potentially help scientists address two major challenges associated with producing cell based meat

Limited lifespan of cell based meat starter cells: CRISPR has the potential to encourage animal cells to keep regenerating without the need to continuously biopsy animal tissue to culture more meat. According to a patent filed by Memphis Meats, CRISPR would allow “genetic amendments, which extend the renewal capacity of cells” http://cellbased.link/cbtpatent1
(Bye, bye, bye) Fetal Bovine Growth Serum: CRISPR has the potential to enable cells to renew and replicate without the use of fetal bovine serum.

Bottom Line: Most cell based meat companies are still in the early stages of the production life cycle, focused on cell growth and regeneration — industrialization is 6-10 years out.

Regulation – it’s a party!

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a formal agreement to share joint regulatory oversight of cell based meat. According to the agreement, “FDA oversees cell collection, cell banks, and cell growth and differentiation. A transition from FDA to FSIS oversight will occur during the cell harvest stage. FSIS will oversee the production and labeling of human food products derived from the cells of livestock and poultry.” http://cellbased.link/usda-93dcf

Publicity

According to a survey conducted by Frontiers, consumers in China are looking to lead the charge in adoption of cell based meat. Researchers from Frontiers surveyed 3,030 respondents: 987 in the USA, 1,024 in India, and 1,019 in China. http://cellbased.link/food-neophobia-6ca81

Here’s what they found:

USA

23.6% were not at all likely to purchase lab grown meat
46.6% were somewhat or moderately likely
29.8% were very or extremely likely

CHINA

6.7% were not at all likely to purchase lab grown meat
33.9% were somewhat or moderately likely
59.3% were very or extremely likely

INDIA

10.7% were not at all likely to purchase lab grown meat
37.7% were somewhat or moderately likely
48.7% were very or extremely likely