How does lab grown meat fit into our future food system?

On BBC 4’s “The Food Programme”, Sheila Dillon interviews Professor Tim Benton about the opportunities and challenges surrounding the lab grown meat industry.

Lab-grown meat has been touted as the future for many years but is it really the best way to reduce the environmental impact of our diets?

One of the most obvious benefits of lab grown food is the tiny amount of land it takes up compared to a soya plantation. But it’s not quite as simple as seems, says Professor Tim Benton, Professor of Population Ecology in the School of Biology who also leads on food and sustainability at the think tank Chatham House. 

In the latest episode, Professor Benton explains how the amount of protein consumption, costs of capital building investment for alternative protein infrastructure and consumer demand make this a complex question to answer. 

Listen to the full episode on BBC Radio sounds.