Dutch Government Grants €60 Million To Enhance Lab-Grown Meat Industry

In keeping with The Netherlands and Europe’s push to reduce meat consumption to ultimately sequester carbon emissions, the Dutch government will be shelling out more funds to grow the fake meat market.

The Netherlands last year were already in talks of reducing their livestock supply by 30%.

Moreover, representatives from the European Union have already stated that meat will become a “luxury item.” The Netherlands new funding is pushing that agenda along.

The following report is from Green Queen:

The Netherlands has announced that it has awarded €60 million to support the creation of a domestic cellular agriculture ecosystem as part of the country’s National Growth Fund, which is deploying €20 billion over the next five years towards innovative, high-potential industries with strong growth credentials. The amount represents the largest ever single investment into cellular agriculture by a government globally.

The funding proposal was made by Cellular Agriculture Netherlands, a consortium of universities, startups, NGOs, and value chain partners which includes CE Delft, DSM, KindEarth.Tech, Meatable, Mosa Meat, Nutreco, Planet B.io, RESPECTfarms, SDG NL, Those Vegan Cowboys, TU Delft, Unilever and WUR. The organization has partnered with and received support from regional development boards, educational institutions, supermarkets and food producers, all of whom believe in a viable, sustainable Dutch cellular agriculture sector.

Speaking about the news, the National Growth Fund Committee underlined cellular agriculture’s potential:

Although the products are not yet on the shelves, the science is promising and the first companies are already active. The committee is pleased with the potential and the parties involved.

The €60 million pledge is the first step towards future aspirations of €252-382 million eventually being made accessible to the Dutch industry. This initial phase will specifically support education and research capabilities. Alongside, access to publicly available scale-up facilities will be leveraged and foundations for societal integration will be laid. The latter will invite farmers and consumers to understand the positive impact that cellular agriculture offers and will inform each of the role they can play in its future adoption and success.

The overall growth plan for the Dutch sector is designed to see incremental growth up to 2050 and beyond. It is hoped that GDP growth will reach between €10-14 million per year. In addition, climate change reversal, population health and environmental benefits are anticipated. At least 12 megatonnes of CO2 emissions per year are predicted to be negated by 2050, as well as 100-130 kilotonnes of ammonia. Both will contribute significantly to national net-zero ambitions.

We are very excited for the visionary leadership the Dutch government is demonstrating today again. The Netherlands is the ideal place for cellular agriculture to flourish. It has a rich history in laying the global foundations of cellular agriculture. It is a global powerhouse in alternative protein and food innovation. It has a global frontrunner position in biotechnology and agriculture. It is the second biggest exporter of traditional agricultural products in the world. And let’s not forget, it was the first country to publicly fund cultivated meat research and present the first proof of concept hamburger to the world. This is a great way to grow sustainably whilst our growth is currently under pressure.

Ira van Eelen, from the Dutch Cellular Agriculture Foundation, said in a statement.

The public investment of €60 million is being hailed as a show of faith in the sector and a sign of willingness to evolve the current farming model. With this backing, the Netherlands could provide a template for other nations to follow, by offering public support and developing a self-sustaining industry ecosystem. As funding allows companies to progress, more startups will launch. This will catch the eye of investors and lead to a sustainable cycle of innovation, investment and commercial success. 

It should be noted that public investment will not alter the process of seeking regulatory approval for product sales within the E.U. The European Novel Foods procedure continues to be in effect.

Daan Luining, co-founder and CTO at Meatable underlined the importance of funding earmarked towards education.

Cultured meat is a fast-growing industry and it’s important to invest and support education and research across all areas from universities to research labs as well as informing the wider population about this dynamic industry. This is an exciting next step in the development of the cellular agriculture ecosystem, supporting this innovative new industry like so many other emerging industries before it, and one that will be beneficial to us all.

The Netherlands holds a special place in the history of cellular agriculture. Dutch company Mosa Meat was the first outfit to debut a cultivated beef burger back in 2013. Van Eelen, too, is a key figure in the world of cultivated meat. She is the daughter of Willem Van Eelen, the Dutch scientist who pioneered cell-based meat technology, which was later acquired by American plant-based egg company Eat Just via patent. Van Eelen told Green Queen:

I am super proud to be Dutch today. My father got the first grant in 2000 and now I can be part of this movement again!

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AUTHOR COMMENTARY

[1] Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; [2] Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; [3] Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. [4] For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: [5] For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

1 Timothy 4:1-5

We are upon the precipice of many world governments enacting policies that will officially make this part of the prophecy come to pass. Nations are already talking about meat taxes, while others are sounding the alarm on feed shortages which would ultimately result in farms having to cull their livestock, on top of governments reportedly slaughtering millions of birds because of a made-up bird flu.

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Germany And Other European Nations Are Considering A “Meat Tax” Of Up To 56%

Capitol Of Finland Bans Meat Except For Government Leaders, A Direct Fulfillment Of Bible Prophecy

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[7] Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? [8] Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also? [9] For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? [10] Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope. (1 Corinthians 9:7-10).

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