Is Japan’s commitment to cultivated meat another sign Europe is lagging?

Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has announced plans to develop a cultivated meat industry. “We will develop an environment to create a new market, such as efforts to ensure safety and development of labelling rules, and foster a food tech business originating in Japan,” ​he said, as reported by the Japan Economic Newspaper. In Japan, no clear definition of cultured meat as food currently exists, nor have safety standards for raw materials and manufacturing processes been established. But the Government has shown willingness to advance this process. “Food tech, including cellular foods, is an important technology from the perspective of realizing a sustainable food supply,” ​said Prime Minister Kishida. “We have to support efforts that contribute to solving the world’s food problems.”​ The Good Food Institute (GFI) Europe has welcomed the move, describing it a ‘hugely significant step’ for cultivated meat globally. However, Acacia Smith, senior policy manager at GFI Europe ...