KARACHI: A seminar titled ‘Artificial Meat and the Future of the Meat Industry’ was organized by the Department of Food Science and Technology at the University of Karachi, in collaboration with the Sindh Food Authority, Al-Ghazali University, and the Halal Foundation. The event took place at KU-DFST UM Hall on Thursday.
Distinguished speakers, including SMIIC OIC Turkey’s General Secretary Ihsan Ovut, Director General of Sindh Food Authority Agha Fakhr Hussain, Vice Chancellor of Al-Ghazali University Professor Dr Zeeshan Ahmed, South Africa’s Grand Mufti Saeed Nowlakhi, KU VC Professor Dr Khalid Mahmood Iraqi, and others, addressed the seminars.
Artificial meat and its impact on Industry
The speakers highlighted that annually 364 million tons of meat are consumed annually, including 143 million tons of chicken meat, 76 million tons of beef, and 17 million tons of mutton.
They emphasized the significance of artificial meat, also known as lab-grown or cultured meat, as a groundbreaking innovation in sustainable food production. Developed through cellular agriculture, this cutting-edge technology enables the cultivation of genuine meat from animal cells, eliminating the need for traditional animal farming and slaughter.
The process begins with a small sample of animal cells, which are carefully cultivated in a nutrient-rich environment. Over time, these cells proliferate and differentiate into muscle tissue, mirroring the natural growth process within an animal’s body.
The US Department of Agriculture’s approval of lab-grown chicken products by Upside Foods and Good Meat in the United States has sparked inquiries into the nature of lab-grown meat.
Addressing public and industry concerns, the speakers delved into topics such as production methods and Halal certification. They noted that the acceptability of lab-grown meat from an Islamic perspective remains a subject of debate among scholars. Encouraging discussions and consensus within religious communities, they stressed the need to collectively address the ethical and religious implications of this emerging food source.
The speakers cited an estimate that approximately 75 billion animals are slaughtered annually, and this number is expected to reach 455 million tons by 2050.
KU VC Professor Dr Khalid Iraqi emphasized the importance of obtaining relevant authorities’ approval regarding the Halal status of lab-grown meat before promoting the artificial meat industry’s production and taste.
Dr Zeeshan Ahmed, Vice Chancellor of Al-Ghazali University, commended the engagement of young researchers in the exploration of artificial meat production.
