Cellular Agriculture Research Articles

Not getting laid: consumer acceptance of precision fermentation made egg

Mounting concern over the negative externalities of industrialized animal agriculture, coupled with falling cost curves of novel food technologies have birthed the field of cellular agriculture: a new category of food technology seeking to reproduce the sensory experiences of animal protein, and promising a cleaner, more ethical way of enjoying animal proteins. This research examines consumer acceptance of precision fermentation (PF) made egg products in Germany, Singapore, and the USA. Using an online survey of 3,006 participants, the study examines demographic and dietary traits that predict willingness to try such products and identifies the reasons why consumers are most attracted to them. The findings suggest that PF made egg products are likely to find a willing market, with a substantial proportion (51–61%) of participants willing to try the product, with vegetarians and vegans displaying the highest enthusiasm. Egg consumption habits and, to a lesser extent, income also predict acceptance. Major reasons for adopting the product were animal welfare in Germany, and health aspects in Singapore and the USA, as well as curiosity in all three countries. Observed differences between the acceptance of PF egg and PF dairy are discussed, as well as comparisons to existing alternative protein (AP) product adoption.

Pluripotency and embryonic lineage genes expression in the presence of small molecule inhibitors of FGF, TGFβ and GSK3 during pre-implantation development of goat embryos

Generating stable livestock pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) can be used for complex genome editing, cellular agriculture, gamete generation, regenerative medicine and in vitro breeding schemes. Over the past decade, significant progress has been made in characterizing pluripotency markers for livestock species. In this study, we investigated embryo development and gene expression of the core pluripotency triad (OCT4, NANOG, SOX2) and cell lineage commitment markers (REX1, CDX2, GATA4) in the presence of three small molecules and their combination [PD0325901 (FGF inhibitor), SB431542 (TGFβ inhibitor), and CHIR99021 (GSK3B inhibitor)] from day 2–7 post-insemination in goat.Significant reduction in rate of blastocyst formation was observed when SB was used along with PD or CHIR and their three combinations had more sever effect. SB and CHIR decreased the expression of SOX2 while increasing the GATA4 expression. PD decrease the relative expression of NANOG, OCT4 and GATA4, while increased the expression of REX1. Among the combination of two molecules, only SB + CHIR combination significantly decreased the expression of GATA4, while the combination of the three molecules significantly decreases the expression of NANOG, SOX2 and CDX2.According to these results, the inhibition of the FGF signaling pathway, by PD may lead to blocking the hypoblast formation as observed by reduction of GATA4. OCT4 and NANOG expressions did not show signs of maintenance pluripotency. GATA4, NANOG and OCT4 in the PD group were downregulated and REX1 as EPI-marker was upregulated thus REX1 may be considered as a marker of EPI/ICM in goat.

Socio-economic futures for cellular agriculture: the development of a novel framework

Novel agri-food technologies such as cellular agriculture present strong economic opportunities, with potential to reduce the environmental footprint of agriculture, improve animal welfare, and feed the world. A rich body of literature has emerged in the past five years that evaluates those claims, and illuminates the diverse food system futures framed by novel agri-food technology actors across the food system. To date, those characterizations of food system futures rely mainly on public data, such as technology advertisements and press releases, and have yet to engage deeply with a broader suite of social, economic, and material pathways for their emergence. The need for a robust social scientific framework through which to describe and evaluate concrete futures for novel food technologies such as cellular agriculture is needed. In this paper, we draw from a set of fifty-two interviews and 3 focus groups with key cellular agriculture stakeholders from industry, academia, investment, and research institutions. We found three key considerations for cellular agriculture futures: to understand the places and scales across which cellular agriculture ‘happens’, to balance competitive industry interests with public-private collaboration, and to navigate the extent to which cellular agriculture interfaces with traditional agriculture. From these considerations, we draw from the literature to deduce three dimensions across which to describe and evaluate concrete futures for novel agri-food technologies, broadly: centralization, access, and integration. Plotting food system futures across these three variables illuminates assumptions, preconceptions, and enabling conditions that may engender more or less desirable futures.

On what basis is it agriculture?: A qualitative study of farmers' perceptions of cellular agriculture

Changes in agriculture and food production are essential in a transition towards sustainable food systems. The challenge is to ensure sufficient, healthy and sustainable nutrition for the growing global population with limited natural resources. Current agricultural policies in Western countries favour specialised large-scale farms that are associated with negative impacts on animal welfare, food safety and the environment. One proposed solution for organising sustainable food systems in the future is cellular agriculture, a food production method based on in vitro cell cultivation techniques. However, the impacts of cellular agriculture on livestock farmers have not been extensively studied. This study explores livestock farmers' perceptions of cellular agriculture, as it will potentially impact farming and rural development in the future. The data consists of 22 semi-structured interviews with livestock farmers in Finland. A grounded theory approach and data-led qualitative analysis were used to construct emerging themes from the farmers' perspectives. The results show that the farmers' perceptions of cellular agriculture are multifaceted and interconnected. In the study, six emerging themes were recognised: i) farmers' outlook on cellular agriculture; ii) the role of farmed animals in cellular agriculture; iii) the market potential of cellular agriculture; iv) relationships between conventional and cellular agriculture; v) rural development and vi) support for farmers. The themes reflected the farmers' future projections, the anticipated uncertainties and potential consequences of cellular agriculture, and the drivers for its development. These novel food technologies were identified as being simultaneously a challenge and an opportunity for conventional livestock farmers and rural areas in the future. However, farmers evaluated the short-term potential of cellular agriculture to be implausible or idealistic due to current food system structures and the early state of cellular agriculture technologies.

Modelling consumers' choice of novel food.

A variety of approaches to reducing the environmental impact of food production and consumption are being explored including technological solutions, such as food produced via biotechnological processes. However, the development of these technologies requires significant upfront investment and consumer acceptance is not guaranteed. The purpose of this research is to develop a system dynamics model to forecast demand, under multiple marketing and quality scenarios, for foods produced via novel technologies, using cellular agriculture as a case study. The model considers consumer heterogeneity, product awareness, word of mouth marketing (WOM), in-store marketing options, pricing options and product utility to estimate diffusion rates and market penetration. To our knowledge, there is no demand forecasting model available for food produced via novel technologies which relies on purchase intention data and incorporates all these factors. Therefore, this research closes a critical gap for that industry. Ultimately, the model shows that price and the consumers' utility for the product drives the final demand regardless of marketing scenario. Further, the rate of diffusion was highest when product samples are provided in store for all scenarios except when product utility is low and the product price is high. Model results suggest that market saturation was reached within the 32-week trial period when the price of the cellular agriculture product was the same as a traditional product but not when the price was double that of traditional meat. Given the lack of available trial data, the model scenarios should be considered a prior probability which should be refined as more data becomes available.

A multi-level perspective of potential transition pathways towards cultured meat: Finnish and German political stakeholder perceptions

Cellular agriculture and its products, such as cultured meat, are suggested to have the potential to advance the sustainability of current food systems. Instead of engaging in current debates concerning the anticipated benefits and challenges of cellular agriculture, it is more useful to identify potential pathways leading to food system transitions. Our study aims to compare Finnish and German political stakeholders' (n = 25) perceptions concerning cultured meat and to analyse its potential transition pathways utilising the multi-level perspective (MLP). Data were collected via semi-structured theme interviews in early 2020. Results show that the participants acknowledge that landscape-level pressures, such as climate change or finite resources, are challenging current food systems. The food regime's position is perceived as somewhat uncertain. The current practices of livestock agriculture, strong food traditions and multiple interest groups' aspirations are anticipated to both hinder and advance a transition to cellular agriculture. On the niche innovation level, cultured meat was perceived as a promising yet technocratic solution. Cultured meat may be an option for continued meat consumption without feelings of guilt but with preconditions such as guaranteed safety, affordable prices and an authentic meat taste similar or better compared with conventionally produced meat. Our article concludes with three potential transition pathways for cellular agriculture. The “technocratic stagnation” pathway is characterised by perceived threats and stakeholder unwillingness to accept cultured meat. The “promising circumstances” pathway is emphasised by positive societal conditions for cultured meat development and stakeholders' incremental adaptation to it as an additional food product on the market. The “rapid advancement” pathway is characterised by technological breakthroughs and high acceptance of cultured meat, which could lead to radical changes in the current food system.

Advancing our understanding of bioreactors for industrial-sized cell culture: health care and cellular agriculture implications.

Bioreactors are advanced biomanufacturing tools that have been widely used to develop various applications in the fields of health care and cellular agriculture. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the use of bioreactors to enhance the efficiency and scalability of these technologies. In cell therapy, bioreactors have been used to expand and differentiate cells into specialized cell types that can be used for transplantation or tissue regeneration. In cultured meat production, bioreactors offer a controlled and efficient means of producing meat without the need for animal farming. Bioreactors can support the growth of muscle cells by providing the necessary conditions for cell proliferation, differentiation, and maturation, including the provision of oxygen and nutrients. This review article aims to provide an overview of the current state of bioreactor technology in both cell therapy and cultured meat production. It will examine the various bioreactor types and their applications in these fields, highlighting their advantages and limitations. In addition, it will explore the future prospects and challenges of bioreactor technology in these emerging fields. Overall, this review will provide valuable insights for researchers and practitioners interested in using bioreactor technology to develop innovative solutions in the biomanufacturing of therapeutic cells and cultured meat.

Fabrication of cell cultured meat by hydrogel with topographic microstructures

Cell cultured meat (CCM) is an innovative food in cellular agriculture derived from culturing cells in vitro rather than slaughtering livestock. Currently, the fabrications of hydrogel for CCM applications are limited in the food-grade material, cell adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation capacities. Thus, an edible collagen hydrogel with linearly aligned microgrooves was fabricated to direct muscle stem cells (MSCs) alignment. In proliferation, more than 65% MSCs were parallel to the topographic microstructures of the hydrogel. Furtherly, the results demonstrated that by benefiting from the well-aligned microgrooves and sufficient cell cultivation, MSCs could differentiate into longer myotubes, with higher expression of related differentiation genes (myosin heavy chain, MyHC-2a and MyHC-slow) and protein (MyHC) than flat hydrogel surface on day 9. Moreover, the types and content of amino acids in natural pork and CCM were also assessed. The amino acids types were consistent while the amino acid content of pork (21.89%) were significantly higher than CCM (11.24%), the gap affirming that some quality characteristics can be facilitated to imitate traditional meat by designing hydrogels in future production. These findings indicate excellent application prospects of the hydrogel with topographic microstructures in CCM.

Bioactive compounds for human and planetary health.

Bioactive compounds found in edible plants and foods are vital for human and planetary health, yet their significance remains underappreciated. These natural bioactives, as part of whole diets, ingredients, or supplements, can modulate multiple aspects of human health and wellness. Recent advancements in omic sciences and computational biology, combined with the development of Precision Nutrition, have contributed to the convergence of nutrition and medicine, as well as more efficient and affordable healthcare solutions that harness the power of food for prevention and therapy. Innovation in this field is crucial to feed a growing global population sustainably and healthily. This requires significant changes in our food system, spanning agriculture, production, distribution and consumption. As we are facing pressing planetary health challenges, investing in bioactive-based solutions is an opportunity to protect biodiversity and the health of our soils, waters, and the atmosphere, while also creating value for consumers, patients, communities, and stakeholders. Such research and innovation targets include alternative proteins, such as cellular agriculture and plant-derived protein; natural extracts that improve shelf-life as natural preservatives; upcycling of agricultural by-products to reduce food waste; and the development of natural alternatives to synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. Translational research and innovation in the field of natural bioactives are currently being developed at two levels, using a systems-oriented approach. First, at the biological level, the interplay between these compounds and the human host and microbiome is being elucidated through omics research, big data and artificial intelligence, to accelerate both discovery and validation. Second, at the ecosystem level, efforts are focused on producing diverse nutrient-rich, flavorful, and resilient, yet high-yield agricultural crops, and educating consumers to make informed choices that benefit both their health and the planet. Adopting a system-oriented perspective helps: unravel the intricate and dynamic relationships between bioactives, nutrition, and sustainability outcomes, harnessing the power of nature to promote human health and wellbeing; foster sustainable agriculture and protect the ecosystem. Interdisciplinary collaboration in this field is needed for a new era of research and development of practical food-based solutions for some of the most pressing challenges humanity and our planet are facing today.

Cheese without cows: Consumer demand for animal-free dairy cheese made from cellular agriculture in the United Kingdom

Abstract We examine consumer demand for animal-free dairy cheese produced using cellular agriculture. Our data is generated through a hypothetical choice experiment completed by 1249 UK residents. Using a mixed logit model, we predict that animal-free dairy cheese would have a conditional market share of 22% when priced at a 25% markup relative to premium conventional cheese. However, the market share is quite sensitive to price: only 2% of consumers would purchase animal-free dairy cheese if it were twice the price of premium conventional cheese. Three-quarters of consumers who purchase animal-free dairy cheese would have purchased conventional dairy cheese if animal-free dairy cheese were unavailable. We use our experimental results to examine the impact of higher conventional dairy cheese prices, such as those that might result from a tax on livestock products. We find that the introduction of animal-free dairy cheese reduces consumer losses from higher conventional dairy prices by about 20%.

Understanding the (Fake) Meat Debates

The topic of “alternative proteins,” a field comprised of both plant-based animal product alternatives and the nascent field of cellular agriculture (eg, cultivated meat), has become a flashpoint for contemporary food system debate. This article introduces the “alternative protein ideological circle” as a framework for understanding the nature of this contestation, as well as the key stakeholder groups who animate the landscape. It argues that perspectives on alternative proteins coalesce around 2 primary ideological poles: (1) meat attachment or carnism, the extent to which people believe or do not believe that eating animals is a natural, normal, and necessary part of contemporary life; and (2) sociotechnical imaginaries, divided between techno-optimistic “wizards” and technoskeptical “prophets.” From there, 4 key stakeholder groups emerge: (1) the “high-tech vegans” (techno-optimists with low levels of carnism); (2) the “ecomodernists” (techno-optimists with high levels of carnism); (3) the “good foodies” (technoskeptics with low levels of carnism); and (4) the “carnivore traditionalists” (technoskeptics with high levels of carnism). The article offers illustrative examples of these groups, drawing from popular media and advocacy. It concludes with reflections on the implications of this framework for nutrition research and practice.

Multi-objective Bayesian algorithm automatically discovers low-cost high-growth serum-free media for cellular agriculture application.

In this work, we applied a multi-information source modeling technique to solve a multi-objective Bayesian optimization problem involving the simultaneous minimization of cost and maximization of growth for serum-free C2C12 cells using a hyper-volume improvement acquisition function. In sequential batches of custom media experiments designed using our Bayesian criteria, collected using multiple assays targeting different cellular growth dynamics, the algorithm learned to identify the trade-off relationship between long-term growth and cost. We were able to identify several media with more growth of C2C12 cells than the control, as well as a medium with 23% more growth at only 62.5% of the cost of the control. These algorithmically generated media also maintained growth far past the study period, indicating the modeling approach approximates the cell growth well from an extremely limited dataset.

Exploring Muslim Consumers’ Acceptance of Cultured Beef Meat

The advancement in cultured meat research in cellular agriculture has greatly surged. The concerns of halalness and thayibban (cleanliness and permissibility to consume) of cultured beef meat will arise among Muslim consumers, prompting the question, “Who will consume the cultured meat, and are Muslims ready to consume it?” This study aimed to clarify how Muslims perceive cultured meat and the issues surrounding their acceptance. A chi-square test and a binary logistic regression analysis were applied to reveal the acceptance of cultured meat. The results revealed that 44.1% of the respondents accepted cultured meat as their food, while 55.9% expressed doubts due to religious concerns. Their attitudes toward cultured meat influenced their decision to accept it as food. Some consumers had high expectations for cultured meat because they believed it would be superior in taste and have nutritional value and health effects. In conclusion, those Muslims who did not doubt cultured meat accepted it as future food with expectations for better function and value.

The role of natural scientists in navigating the social implications of cellular agriculture: insights from an interdisciplinary workshop

The emerging field of cellular agriculture uses cell culture to create animal products, potentially mitigating climate and health risks associated with conventional animal agriculture. However, cellular agriculture products are poised to enter the food ecosystem without an understanding of the long-term consequences and social implications. While these discussions have begun among social scientists, dialogues are lacking among natural scientists and engineers, perpetuating a disconnect between those progressing new technology and those most directly impacted by it. To begin to bridge this gap, an interdisciplinary workshop was organized by the Food and Agriculture Institute at the University of the Fraser Valley in collaboration with the Arrell Food Institute, New Harvest, and Cellular Agriculture Canada. At his workshop, representatives from cellular agriculture companies, STEM research labs, dairy farms, animal rights organizations, and Indigenous communities convened to discuss the social implications of cellular agriculture. Specific topics of interest were food security, labor, and employment, power relations and governance, and animal ethics. In this commentary, the authors highlight critical learnings from the workshop as natural scientists, namely the relationship between food and identity, the variety of human-animal relationships, and implications for nutrition and health. We believe that for a just transition of our food systems, the development of cellular agriculture needs to include communities as collaborators from the outset. While this work is difficult in the current environment of market capitalism, it has the potential to improve the culture of research and development to benefit the broader society. To this end, we provide resources, examples, and invitations to natural scientists and researchers interested in engaging with this work. As we rapidly approach a food system that includes products created with cellular agriculture, we encourage readers to consider which individuals and populations need to be involved in this growth, and how they can work together to promote a sustainable future for all.

Repurposing agricultural waste as low-cost cultured meat scaffolds

Growing meat in vitro using tissue engineering and bioproduction techniques (cellular agriculture) has become an increasingly promising solution to the global food security challenge. Our lab has established methods to cultivate bovine muscle tissue on decellularized plants, representing a viable low-cost, sustainable method to grow meat on edible scaffolds. Most work in this area has focused on the use of edible plant materials (i.e., spinach leaves, apple, broccoli) with inherent economic value. Harvest waste such as corn husk or jackfruit represent abundant sources of cellulose for scaffold production and may be a viable alternative. The present study aims to investigate production of cultured meat through tissue engineering and bioproduction on decellularized, edible samples of corn husk and jackfruit rind. Corn husks and jackfruit rinds were exposed to immersion decellularization. DNA quantification and histological analysis demonstrated sufficient decellularization (0.17 ± 0.06 and 0.07 ± 0.00 ug DNA/g tissue for corn husk and jackfruit rinds, respectively). Following decellularization, corn husk scaffold stiffnesses decreased from 56.67±16.71 MPa to 12.95±2.43 MPa in fiber-aligned direction, while jackfruit decreased from 7.54 ±2.42 MPa to 2.47±1.47 MPa. Seeded scaffolds with bovine satellite cells (BSCs) (11.45±2.24 ug/ul lysate/Gram) and avian (QM7s) (12.90±1.99 ug/ul lysate/Gram) demonstrated increased protein yields on jackfruit scaffolds. QM7 cultured on corn husk scaffolds yielded increased protein but PBSCs seeded on corn husks did not yield protein content higher than controls (QM7 on corn husk: 16.28±3.55, PBSCs on corn husks: 9.57±1.56 ug/ul lysate/Gram, control: 6.35±1.43 ug/ul lysate/Gram). Additionally, cell transfer from scaffold to scaffold (bead-to-bead transfer) was observed on corn husk scaffolds in a dynamic environment. These results suggest that decellularized harvest waste scaffolds may aid in realization of cultured meat products that will contribute to a more robust and environmentally sustainable food supply.

Potential Application of Muscle Precursor Cells from Male Specific-Pathogen-Free (SPF) Chicken Embryos in In Vitro Agriculture.

This study examined the potential benefits of male specific-pathogen-free (SPF) White Leghorn embryos in cellular agriculture for sustainable and ethical poultry meat production-addressing traditional farming challenges, including disease outbreaks of Salmonella and Avian influenza. We isolated myogenic precursor cells (MPCs) from the thigh muscles (Musculus femoris) of 12.5-day-old embryos from 10 SPF White Leghorns that tested negative for Salmonella. We randomly selected MPCs from three males and three females, isolated them using a modified pre-plating (pp) method, and compared their in vitro development. After 1 h (pp1) and 2 h (pp2) of incubation, they were transferred to a new dish to remove fast-adhering cells and cultured (pp3). Isolated MPCs had a 69% positive reaction to Pax7. During proliferation, no differences were observed in PAX7, MYF5, or MYOD expression between the male and female MPCs. However, after five days of differentiation, the expression of late myogenic factors-MYOG and MYF6-significantly increased in all MPCs. Notably, MYOG expression was 1.9 times higher in female than in male MPCs. This impacted MYMK's expression pattern. Despite this, the myotube fusion index did not differ between the sexes. Muscle cells from male SPF-laying chicken embryos are promising for developing clean animal-cell-derived protein sources via resource recycling.

Tasting the “Future of Food” on a Bay-Area Cellular Agriculture Tour

Research Article| May 01 2023 Tasting the “Future of Food” on a Bay-Area Cellular Agriculture Tour Sarah-Louise Ruder, Sarah-Louise Ruder Sarah-Louise Ruder is a PhD candidate and public scholar at the University of British Columbia’s Institute for Resources, Environment, and Sustainability, and a researcher at the University of the Fraser Valley’s Food and Agriculture Institute. She is an environmental social scientist studying food systems and the politics of novel technologies. Search for other works by this author on: This Site PubMed Google Scholar Evan Bowness, Evan Bowness Evan Bowness Evan Bowness is a critical environmental social scientist and assistant professor of Community Food Systems at the Trent School of the Environment where he hosts the Towards Equity in Sustainability Transitions (“TEST”) Lab. He is a Research Associate at University of the Fraser Valley’s Food and Agriculture Institute and has a PhD from the University of British Columbia. Search for other works by this author on: This Site PubMed Google Scholar Angela McIntyre, Angela McIntyre Angela McIntyre is a research associate and co-director at Simon Fraser University Centre for Collaborative Action on Indigenous Health Governance. Search for other works by this author on: This Site PubMed Google Scholar Atlanta Grant, Atlanta Grant Atlanta Grant is an Iroquois woman with mixed Huron-Wendat and German ancestry, originally from the traditional territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Ojibwe, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat peoples. Her master’s research at the University of British Columbia focuses on the cultural resurgence of Indigenous food-cycling practices (the careful and intentional practices that surround consumption of animals and plants) as the reinstatement of Indigenous natural law. Search for other works by this author on: This Site PubMed Google Scholar Lenore Newman Lenore Newman Lenore Newman is the Food and Agriculture Institute Director at the University of the Fraser Valley, where she specializes in agricultural innovation and policy. Her most recent book, Dinner on Mars (co-authored with Dr. Evan Fraser), was published in 2022 by ECW Press. She holds a PhD in environmental studies from York University. Search for other works by this author on: This Site PubMed Google Scholar Gastronomica (2023) 23 (2): 37–46. https://doi.org/10.1525/gfc.2023.23.2.37 Views Icon Views Article contents Figures & tables Video Audio Supplementary Data Peer Review Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Cite Icon Cite Search Site Citation Sarah-Louise Ruder, Evan Bowness, Angela McIntyre, Atlanta Grant, Lenore Newman; Tasting the “Future of Food” on a Bay-Area Cellular Agriculture Tour. Gastronomica 1 May 2023; 23 (2): 37–46. doi: https://doi.org/10.1525/gfc.2023.23.2.37 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentGastronomica Search It’s a sunny spring morning in San Francisco. In the Bay Area, we’re on the traditional and ancestral territory of the Ohlone People, though now Indigenous Peoples of many nations find their home on these lands. My colleagues and I traveled to the Bay Area to meet with a few “cellular agriculture” start-ups. This morning is our first visit of several this week. We’re in the “Dogpatch” neighborhood. Subway tracks line the main street. We are surrounded by a mix of older industrial heritage buildings and some newer ones with a similar style, only shinier. Some of the old warehouses look as if they’ve been converted to loft apartments. There is an air of gentrification. We walk into a tall and wide industrial building, passing through the spacious hallways, with big gray tiles on the floor and seemingly endless rows of metal doors. The ceilings are high, with pipes, vents,... You do not currently have access to this content.

Mechanical Properties and Morphological Alterations in Fiber-Based Scaffolds Affecting Tissue Engineering Outcomes

Electrospinning is a versatile tool used to produce highly customizable nonwoven nanofiber mats of various fiber diameters, pore sizes, and alignment. It is possible to create electrospun mats from synthetic polymers, biobased polymers, and combinations thereof. The post-processing of the end products can occur in many ways, such as cross-linking, enzyme linking, and thermal curing, to achieve enhanced chemical and physical properties. Such multi-factor tunability is very promising in applications such as tissue engineering, 3D organs/organoids, and cell differentiation. While the established methods involve the use of soluble small molecules, growth factors, stereolithography, and micro-patterning, electrospinning involves an inexpensive, labor un-intensive, and highly scalable approach to using environmental cues, to promote and guide cell proliferation, migration, and differentiation. By influencing cell morphology, mechanosensing, and intracellular communication, nanofibers can affect the fate of cells in a multitude of ways. Ultimately, nanofibers may have the potential to precisely form whole organs for tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, and cellular agriculture, as well as to create in vitro microenvironments. In this review, the focus will be on the mechanical and physical characteristics such as porosity, fiber diameter, crystallinity, mechanical strength, alignment, and topography of the nanofiber scaffolds, and the impact on cell proliferation, migration, and differentiation.

Cultured meat in cellular agriculture: Advantages, applications and challenges

The concept behind cellular agriculture is to produce new meat and plant product with almost little or zero meat or plant input by using their tissue or cell. It is a new approach that allows meat to be produced in a bioreactor rather than from farm animals. This concept also can be used by biotechnologists to make meat or skeletal tissue outside of an organism. The purpose of this paper is to review the types of production of cultured meat, potential benefits, and potential challenges in producing cultured meat. Two types of cultured meat production are highlighted in this review, as well as the reduction of environmental burden in food production, nutritional value, and animal welfare, as well as technical and ethical limitations in cultured meat production, public perception, and consumer acceptance of cultured meat. As a result, the concerns regarding the food supply in the face of expanding population and climate change have prompted more research on the importance of cultured meat. Cultured meat can be produced in several ways, and each has the potential to contribute to agricultural technology in ensuring food security, nutritional and hygienic requirements, and reduction of carbon. Cultured meat is a vital source of nutrition, particularly in developing nations where hunger is an issue. This review paper will assist researchers in identifying relevant information about cultured meat and the various perspective including religious perception in consuming and accepting this cultured meat.

Perceptions and acceptance of yeast-derived dairy in British Columbia, Canada

Yeast derived-dairy (YDD) produced using cellular agriculture technologies is already available for purchase in the United States, though there has been little study of public understanding of these products. Our pilot study explored consumer perception and acceptance of YDD and yeast-derived agriculture (YDA). The study employed a questionnaire consisting of Likert scale, multiple-choice and open-ended questions, which was disseminated to vegans and the food-interested public in the province of British Columbia, Canada. Quantitative data was analyzed using SPSS 27.0, and qualitative data was collected and analyzed (in English) using thematic analysis. A binary logistic regression model indicated that among our participants, being vegan or 35 years of age or older negatively predicted having positive feelings towards YDA [chi-square (10) = 29.086, p = 0.001]. Vegans were less likely to try or purchase YDD than non-vegans. Consumers in our study shared concerns regarding the health and safety of YDD with many viewing it as non-vegan and a highly processed product. Although vegans receive a disproportionate amount of media attention with regards to cellular agriculture, our pilot study suggests this group may be unlikely to accept or consume YDA or YDD. Rather, our preliminary work indicates non-vegans and individuals under the age of 35 may be a more receptive market. Across groups, confusion about YDA processes may be a barrier to adoption.