Techno-economic assessment of animal cell-based meat

Interest in animal cell-based meat (ACBM) or laboratory grown meat has been increasing, however the economic viability of these potential products has not been thoroughly vetted. Recent studies suggest monoclonal antibody production technology can be adapted for the industrialization of ACBM production. This study provides a scenario-based assessment of the projected cost per kilogram of ACBM based on cellular metabolic requirements and process/chemical engineering conventions. A sensitivity analysis of the model identified the nine most influential cost factors for ACBM production out of 67 initial parameters. The results indicate that technological performance will need to approach technical limits for ACBM to achieve profitably as a commodity. However, the model also suggests that low-volume high-value specialty products could be viable based on current technology. One Sentence Summary A model based upon cellular metabolism and engineering conventions was created to examine the economic viability of animal cell-based meat. Significance statement Animal cell-based meat (ACBM) has received a significant amount of media attention (as well as corporate investment) in recent years based on its perceived potential to displace traditional meat production, whether beef, poultry, or fish. However, a robust techno-economic assessment (TEA) of these potential products is not publicly available. Our study examined the capital and operating expenditures for potential ACBM products based upon fundamental cellular attributes, the use of proposed near-term/existing technology, and process engineering conventions. Our findings suggest that the current production pathways are far from producing cost-competitive ACBM products, as well as highlight the technical metrics that must be achieved for an ACBM product to become economically viable.