On 19 February 2024, the B-Trust project held a co-creation session with representatives from the meat industry and livestock farming sector at the MEAT the FUTURE event in Lleida, Spain. Organised by B-Trust specifically for industry stakeholders, the session explored industry perspectives on biotechnology, focusing on its current applications, future potential, and perceived risks and benefits.

A total of 37 companies from the meat value chain attended the event, with the co-creation session taking place immediately after a keynote presentation on key biotechnologies explored in the B-Trust project, including cell factories and eating the cells. This ensured participants had a basic understanding of the technologies before discussing regulatory challenges, market opportunities, and industry concerns.

The session began with participants mapping out biotechnologies they currently use, would like to use, and would not use. Biotechnology is already widely applied in the industry, particularly in fermentation, enzyme-based processing, and microbial applications for food safety and waste valorisation. Precision fermentation emerged as an area of strong interest for alternative protein production, alongside growing curiosity about cultivated meat and AI-driven tools to optimise production processes.

Concerns focused on high investment and operational costs, regulatory uncertainty, and consumer acceptance. Some participants were sceptical about genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and transgenic plant-based products due to market hesitancy and regulatory challenges. Cultivated meat also divided opinions, with some seeing long-term potential while others doubted its market viability in Spain.

The most valued benefits of biotechnology included circular production models and sustainable ingredient production, both seen as essential for reducing environmental impact and improving resource efficiency. Participants also highlighted biotechnology’s potential to enhance food security by reducing dependency on climate conditions and geopolitical stability.

The session provided valuable insights into the meat industry’s evolving relationship with biotechnology. While participants recognised its potential to improve efficiency and sustainability, addressing cost barriers, regulatory frameworks, and consumer perception will be key to broader adoption.

📢 Stay tuned for more updates on the B-Trust co-creation process and upcoming workshops!

This project is funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe programme 2021-2027.