Wildtype has become the fourth producer of cultivated meat and seafood to obtain FDA approval, marking a significant advancement in an emerging industry that has encountered strong opposition from agricultural and farming sectors. Earlier this year, Nebraska and Mississippi prohibited the sale of lab-grown meat, joining Florida and Alabama, which enacted their own restrictions in 2024. Indiana also instituted a two-year ban on cell-cultured meat, and several other states are contemplating similar measures, according to the Council of State Governments Midwestern Office.
While critics of cultivated meat assert that the industry threatens the livelihoods of ranchers, Wildtype and its supporters argue that this technology is intended to complement traditional agricultural practices by addressing the growing demand for animal protein in light of severe land and water constraints. In 2024, the U.S. housed 36 cultivated meat companies, the highest number of any country, according to a report from the Good Food Institute. However, lab-grown meat and fish are not yet available in U.S. retail stores, and the industry continues to face significant hurdles, including challenges in scaling up production in a difficult fundraising landscape.
Nonetheless, there is considerable potential for lab-grown products, especially as consumers show interest in reducing their meat consumption without completely eliminating it. Flexitarians, individuals who generally follow a vegetarian diet but occasionally consume meat or fish, are estimated to comprise up to 15% of the U.S. population, as reported by the Food Institute. Collaborating with traditional meat companies may be the most effective strategy for scaling the industry, according to GFI. Major meat corporations such as Cargill and Tyson Foods have invested in cultivated meat, while JBS is constructing a lab-grown meat facility in Brazil.
Wildtype plans to extend its cultivated salmon to four more restaurants within the next four months and is actively seeking additional partners to enhance consumer awareness, as stated in a press release. Other cultivated meat producers have made their debut in restaurants but have since scaled back; for instance, Upside Foods’ cultivated chicken was removed from the menu of a San Francisco establishment after the conclusion of a partnership.
As regulatory initiatives at the state level gain momentum, more cultivated meat producers are voicing their concerns. Wildtype has taken a proactive stance against state measures aimed at restricting cultivated meat sales, with the company’s co-founders testifying against the Florida bill in 2024. “We believe that through technology and innovation, we can tackle the fundamental challenge of our time: sustaining global health and quality of life without compromising our planet,” Wildtype stated following the passage of the Florida bill. “Achieving meaningful behavioral change—convincing a significant number of people to use less energy or alter their diets—takes longer than we can afford.”
In light of this, there is a growing interest in incorporating nutritional supplements, such as calcium citrate and bariatric solutions, to support the health of consumers as they transition to more sustainable diets. As the cultivated meat industry continues to evolve, it will be essential to consider such innovations to ensure that both health and environmental sustainability are prioritized.