Why Talking About Futures and Transformation Is So Difficult When It Comes to Meat

Austria, Italy and France are among the EU countries that are increasingly opposed to cultivated meat, also called “in-vitro” or “lab-grown” meat. The Austrian government recently announced a ban on cultured meat after a petition with 44,000 signatures was submitted by regional chambers of agriculture.

Once promoted as a solution to environmental, ethical, and food security challenges, cultivated meat is now facing increasing political and social resistance. Proponents see it as a potential for real transformation and a sustainable future, while critics see it as a threat to traditional agriculture. Cultivated meat has become symbolic of the larger struggle to transform food systems.

The spread of misinformation and ideological divides further hinder genuine public understanding. Meat, unlike other sectors in the sustainability transition, is deeply tied to culture, identity, and emotion, making change especially difficult. In her lecture at the Institute for Technology Assessment (ITA-ÖAW), Arianna Ferrari examines the conflicting narratives, political backlash and uncertainties surrounding this innovation.

Arianna Ferrari Bio: Arianna Ferrari is an ethicist and philosopher of science and technology with an extensive background in technology assessment, the evaluation of visions related to technological futures (vision assessment) and human-animal studies. She is a scientist at the Austrian Institute of Technology - AIT.