Cell-based Chicken Debuts at COP27 Climate Crisis Conference

EAT

Nov 10

While showcasing cell-based chicken is certainly a step in the right direction, COP27 has also stirred up anger and controversy for serving animal products, including beef, salmon, and cream, during the event.

Cell-based chicken will debut at the COP27 climate conference currently taking place in Egypt , giving delegates a taste of sustainable, slaughter-free meat.

GOOD Meat, the cultured meat division of food company Eat Just., will serve the alternative protein as part of ‘a series of historic dining experiences’ organized in partnership with the Singapore Pavilion.

The food technology pioneer won regulatory approval for its cell-based chicken in Singapore two years ago and remains the only cultivated meat company in the world with the ability to sell to consumers.

The tasting event will represent the first time GOOD Meat’s products have been sampled outside of Singapore. It will also be the first time that COP has featured a cell-based animal product at the event.

“We hope our guests at COP27 find their cultivated chicken meals both delicious and thought-provoking and they leave the summit with a new appreciation for the role food innovation can play in combatting the global climate crisis,” said Josh Tetrick, co-founder and CEO of Eat Just. “There is no better place to launch our next version than right here at the world’s most consequential climate change gathering.

“Singapore was the first country to allow the sale of meat made without tearing down a single forest or displacing an animal’s habitat, and we look forward to other countries following in their footsteps.”

Cultivated meat was celebrated by the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (UNIPCC) as a “transformative” approach to mitigating emissions and cited conventional animal agriculture - one of the top causes of greenhouse gas emissions.

According to a 2022 UNIPCC report, cultivated meat has the potential to deliver substantial reductions in direct emissions from food production. “These technologies have lower land, water and nutrient footprints, and address concerns over animal welfare,” the report stated.

GOOD Meat will serve its cultivated chicken Saturday, November 12 through Monday, November 14 at invitation-only events for media, ministerial-level guests and representatives from civil society.

COP27 Blasted for Serving Animal Products

While showcasing cell-based chicken is certainly a step in the right direction, COP27 has also stirred up anger and controversy for serving animal products during the event.

During the 12-day conference designed to fight climate catastrophe, VIP delegates are being offered multiple animal-based dishes in a specifc area of the venue called the Blue Zone, where official negotiations take place. Restaurant items include angus beef (for $100), creamy salmon ($40), grilled sea bass ($25), grilled beef ($35), chicken breast ($30), and ravioli with cheese and cream ($20).

Prior to the event, non-profit media organization Species Unite launched a petition calling for the organizers of COP27 to protect our planet by serving only plant-based food at the UN Climate Conference.

“There is no justifiable reason to serve foods that are causing climate change at a conference designed to try and stop climate change,” said Elizabeth Novogratz, Species Unite founder. “Every year we are seeing more and more of the disastrous effects of global warming in the form of rising sea levels, heat waves, severe weather events and issues such as the recent threat to food crops from lanternflies whose range may be forever altered by changing temperatures.

“It is simply not good enough for our world leaders to get together every year to make speeches, look solemn, pat each other on the backs and then go home without making any changes or leading by example.”

COP27 has come under fire from other environmental groups for serving planet-destroying foods: a spokesperson from the campaign group Animal Rebellion stated: “the scientists are coming to the conclusion that we need to be switching from an animal-based diet to a plant-based food system. These world leaders need to look like they believe them. This just looks like 'do what I say and not what I do'.”

“North Africa has some brilliant plant-based foods, like falafel and couscous, so why do they need to ship in Salmon from the Atlantic?,” they added.

A spokesperson for The Vegan Society said: 'It's really disappointing that such a significant climate change event as COP27 is serving up high environmental impact meat and fish sourced from another continent.

“This is a real missed opportunity for world leaders to connect the issues of diet and climate and lead by example in showcasing a delicious, low impact, plant-based menu to highlight how such changes can make a huge difference to the future of the planet.”

Animal Agriculture is Killing the Planet

Globally, more than 88 billion animals are raised and slaughtered for food every year. Animal agriculture is responsible for nearly a fifth of human-induced greenhouse gas emissions. The production of eggs, dairy, and meat is also the leading cause of ocean dead zones, water pollution, species extinction, and habitat destruction. This environmental degradation is leading to the mass displacement of vulnerable communities and food scarcity in many parts of the world.

Earlier this year, an urgent report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) highlighted the dangerous inefficiencies of our current food production methods, which account for more than a third (37 percent) of global greenhouse gas emissions. 57 percent of these are due to animal-based foods such as meat and dairy.

When it comes to combating climate change, plant-based diets and alternative products have been hailed as one of the leading solutions. According to a 2019 Good Food Institute report, plant-based meat production causes a median savings of 88.5% percent less greenhouse gas emissions than conventional meat production. The same report also highlighted that plant-based meat uses median savings of 93% less land and 95.5% less water than animal agriculture.

Last year, the UN conference also received criticism for its animal-heavy menu. Activists compared offering meat and dairy at a conference on climate catastrophe to “serving cigarettes at a lung cancer conference”.

What We Eat Matters

Studies show that reducing meat and dairy production and consumption is one of the most effective actions we can take to avoid catastrophic climate change. But, we understand that when making changes to your food choices, it can be difficult to know where to start. The Species Unite 30-Day Challenge is here to help. Over 30 days, you’ll be guided through the steps to embracing sustainable, plant-based living with daily emails from Elizabeth Novogratz, our founder. You’ll also have exclusive access to a private support group on Facebook where you can share your journey with others. Sign up for free here.

We Have A Favor To Ask…

Species Unite amplifies well-researched solutions to some of the most abusive animal industries operating today.

At this crucial moment, with worldwide momentum for change building, it’s vital we share these animal-free solutions with the world - and we need your help.

We’re a nonprofit, and so to keep sharing these solutions, we’re relying on you - with your support, we can continue our essential work in growing a powerful community of animal advocates this year.

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