In the Dutch province of South Holland, the world's first farm is being built where cultivated meat will be produced directly on the premises of an active agricultural enterprise. By 2026, visitors will be able to see the process of growing meat from animal cells with their own eyes.
In the west of the Netherlands, the world's first cultivated meat farm has opened, reports the NOS broadcasting company.
The farm is located in the village of Schipluiden (South Holland). This week, the first production modules were installed on the premises of the dairy farm owned by cheesemaker Corne van Leeuwen.
Using stem cells from his own cows, the farmer can grow meat in a bioreactor on his farm. Cultivated meat has become more affordable than in the early stages, but its consumption is still banned in Europe.
The idea of growing meat in laboratory conditions was first proposed by researcher Willem van Eelen. However, it was only realized in 2013 when Maastricht physiologist Mark Post, with financial support from Google, grew the world's first laboratory hamburger from stem cells of cow muscle tissue.
The concept arose in response to concerns about animal suffering in intensive livestock farming.
The new pilot facility in Schipluiden is intended for small-scale production of cultivated meat directly on the farm.
In the demonstration center, visitors will be able to see the production process with their own eyes and learn how cultivated meat is created.
The project's creators believe that cultivated meat could become a more environmentally friendly and humane alternative to traditional livestock farming. If the experiment in Schipluiden proves successful, similar farms could emerge in other countries, opening a new chapter in the history of food production.
