Guidelines for environmental life cycle assessment of cultivated meat

Abstract

Purpose Cultivated meat is produced by growing animal cells in vitro without using, or reducing the use of, animals for meat, poultry, or seafood production. Responsibly and consistently investigating the environmental impacts of cultivated meat is essential to provide reliable performance benchmarks and realistic comparisons with animal-based production systems. In this contribution, we provide technical, actionable guidelines for conducting life cycle assessments (LCAs) of cultivated meat and highlight further research needs for the field. Methods We assembled a global team of recognized and active scientists in cultivated meat LCA, livestock systems LCA, and ISO LCA standards to develop this set of guidelines using a workshop (in person and online) and online meetings, as well as asynchronous feedback, to reach consensus. Results and discussion These guidelines provide specifications throughout the four phases of LCA, from goal definition to the interpretation of LCA results. Data gaps, including the availability and quality of feed or food-grade culture media component inventories, are among the areas highlighted for further exploration. Conclusion We invite LCA practitioners to apply these guidelines when investigating cultivated meat systems to increase the consistency and reliability of environmental impact evaluations for these emerging products.