China's 14th Five-Year Plan, released earlier this year, again mentions artificial meat and other synthetic proteins. Specifically, it refers to "cell meat, synthetic custard, functional recombinant protein culture" under "cutting-edge and cross-integrated technologies".
Leaders also mentioned the use of biotechnology to develop new proteins from plants and microorganisms in their speeches to the National Committee of the 13th Chinese Political Consultative Conference. This will be a significant opportunity for China to become a global market leader and help manage risks to the food system.
Food and nutrition security challenges
In recent years, China has faced new challenges in food and nutrition security, becoming increasingly dependent on imports; in 2021, China imports more than 160 million tons of beans, corn, wheat and other cereals. On the other hand, the growth of cereal production has slowed down year by year, while the increase in demand has exacerbated unsustainable farming practices, which has also led to the degradation of agricultural land.
cropper
Image credit: GMO Answers
This is a complex and multidimensional issue that requires strategic thinking and layout. The potential of artificial meat in addressing food and nutritional security has brought it into increasing concern.
New local industries are emerging
Artificial meat is produced using cutting-edge technologies such as tissue engineering, biotechnology, molecular biology and synthetic processes, with research directions related to the cultivation of microbial organisms, which is a potential technology-driven export market.
Currently, the cost of artificial meat far exceeds the cost of ordinary meat production in traditional animal husbandry, and this high cost is caused by the small scale of the laboratory and the limitations of current technical bottlenecks, but according to consulting firm McKinsey, the cost of artificial meat may reach the same level as traditional farming by 2030. As a technology and innovation hub for new food technologies, China is well positioned to be a leader in the transition to a sustainable food system. The number of related start-ups is growing rapidly, including early pioneers such as CellX and JIMI.
Artificial meat
Israeli tech startup Aleph Farms says they can grow a steak out of stem cells in three to four weeks. Founded in 2017, the company expects to receive regulatory approval to sell its products by the end of the year.
Image credit: Ilia Yechimovich/Alamy
Develop a big food outlook
On March 6, 2022, when attending the joint group meeting of the cppcc committee members of the agricultural circles, social welfare and social security circles, the leaders said that "we must establish a big food concept.". China has entered a new era, people's living standards are improving day by day, nutrition needs are becoming more and more diversified, comprehensive and balanced, and it is very necessary to establish a "big food concept". The concept of big food is a concept of "asking for heat and protein from arable land, grassland, forest ocean, and from plant and animal microorganisms, and developing food resources in all directions and in multiple ways". It is an important part of promoting the structural reform of the agricultural supply side.
Artificial meat means a lot to China
Artificial meat has the potential to reduce the impact of global warming and water use during protein production, but its environmental footprint also depends on the type of energy and substances invested in the production process. Further research is needed on related aspects, such as nutrition, so continued focus on policy and investment in research remains important to encourage better understanding and innovation.
Artificial meat means a lot to China.
Resources
1. China targets innovation in sustainable protein （chinadialogue.net）2. Climate-friendly synthetic meat and eggs on the menu in China’s 5-year food security independence plan（geneticliteracyproject.org）3. Establish a big food concept and make the "Chinese rice bowl" better and healthier (People's Daily News)
Source: GMO Micro Q&A
Link:
https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/mIOmZWmnMh-5ygqpV16z9A
Appendix:
Almost all the artificial meat in the world has been contracted by this fan factory in Shandong
Author: Ding Jiao, Zheng Huaizhou
Link:
https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/05K2CJJfydLURjAO9ov5UQ
Excerpt:
From a macro level, artificial meat can effectively reduce the negative impact on the environment, which is more in line with the current environmental protection concept.
Traditional animal husbandry is the main source of two strong greenhouse gases (methane and nitrous oxide) and also consumes large amounts of natural resources such as land, food crops, and water resources.
Comparison of environmental effects of plant meat and animal meat
According to beyond meat's prospectus, artificial meat instead of common food meat can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 90%, reduce water resources by 99%, land by 93%, and energy resources by 46%.
From a microscopic point of view, artificial meat is an option for modern people to live a healthy life.
Its demand for health, quality, and individualization is increasing day by day, and the artificial meat that advocates low fat and low cholesterol is a kind of cater to this consumption concept.