Technological Advances and the Challenges for Large-Scale Cultured Meat Production
Abstract
Cultured meat, produced through in vitro cultivation of animal cells, represents a promising solution to the environmental, ethical, and resource-intensive challenges of conventional livestock production. Significant technological advances have been achieved in seed cell acquisition, serum-free culture media development, bioreactor scale-up, 3D tissue formation, and sensory enhancement. Nevertheless, substantial hurdles persist in achieving cost-effective large-scale production, ensuring product safety and quality, establishing robust regulatory frameworks, and securing widespread consumer acceptance. This review examines recent progress throughout the cultured meat production chain, critically analyzes unresolved challenges, and outlines essential research priorities for realizing its industrial potential.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Agriculture Sustainability and Environmental Impact
Meat and Animal Product Quality
Animal Genetics and Reproduction
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Annual Review of Food Science and Technology
- Publisher
- Annual Reviews
- Volume
- 17
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 417–438
- Publication date
- 30 January 2026
- Language
- EN