Cultivated meat (also called cultured meat, lab-grown meat, synthetic meat, cell cultivated meat or even “good meat”) is one of the most exciting food innovations of our time. Instead of raising and slaughtering animals, scientists grow real animal cells in controlled conditions. The result is chemically real meat – just made in a different way.
This technology has the potential to eliminate farmed animal suffering, lower climate emissions, and make our food system more resilient. But it also raises big questions. Is cultivated meat vegan? When will it be available in New Zealand? How is it made, and is it healthy? Let’s explore.
What is cultivated meat?
Cultivated meat is meat made by growing animal cells directly. Scientists take a small sample of cells (often from a harmless biopsy, fertilised egg, a feather, or even a cell bank, which is like a freezer library of living cells) and place them in a nutrient-rich medium (a soup of nutrients that feed the cells. It can be vegan). Inside a bioreactor — a tank that looks a lot like what breweries use to make beer — those cells grow and multiply. With the right scaffolding, nutrients, and conditions, they form muscle and fat tissue that is biologically identical to conventional meat.
It’s not imitation meat, fake meat, or plant-based meat. It is real meat. But unlike conventional farming, there’s no need to raise billions of chickens or pigs in factory farms.
For a deeper dive into the science, see the Good Food Institute’s in-depth explanation of cultivated meat.
When did cultivated meat start being produced?
Cultivated meat might feel new, but scientists have been working on it for decades. Here’s a quick timeline:
- 2000s – Small research groups start experimenting with growing animal muscle cells in labs.
- 2013 – The world’s first cultivated beef burger is unveiled by Maastricht University in the Netherlands. It cost more than US$300,000 to make.
- 2016–2019 – Dozens of start-ups form worldwide, from GOOD Meat to Mosa Meat. Funding pours in from venture capital and food giants.
- 2020 – Singapore becomes the first country to approve cultivated chicken for sale.
- 2022–2023 – The United States gives regulatory approval for cultivated chicken.
- 2025 – Australia and New Zealand legalise cultivated meat.
The trajectory is similar to other technologies. Costs start high, progress feels slow, but each year brings breakthroughs. Remember: the first mobile phones were clunky and expensive too.
Is cultivated meat vegan?
This is one of the most common questions — and the answer depends on how you define veganism.
- Dietary veganism usually means avoiding all animal products. Since cultivated meat is still animal meat, many people following this definition would say it is not vegan.
- Ethical veganism is about avoiding products that cause harm. Cultivated meat may meet this standard because it can eliminate the need to farm and slaughter billions of animals.
Some vegans welcome cultivated meat as a tool to reduce suffering. Others prefer to stick with plant-based foods. The debate continues. For those who want to avoid meat altogether, there are many excellent plant-based chicken alternatives available now in New Zealand.
When will cultivated meat be available in New Zealand?
Cultivated meat is not yet available in New Zealand. Food standards here are governed by FSANZ (Food Standards Australia New Zealand). New Zealand gave safety approval to cultivated meat in 2025.
Regulation is only part of the story. There will also be debates about agriculture, culture, and the economy. Meat and dairy have been central to New Zealand’s identity and exports. Smart business leaders and farming groups will see opportunities to embrace and enhance high-tech food. Sadly, some farming groups may resist change and continue to exploit animals.
The exact timeline is unclear, but based on global trends, it seems likely that cultivated meat will appear in restaurants here in the late 2020s or early 2030s – starting small, then growing.
Where is cultivated meat available right now?
Cultivated meat is slowly moving from labs into restaurants and shops. A few examples:
- Singapore – The first country to allow cultivated chicken, now served in select restaurants.
- United States – Cultivated chicken approved by regulators in 2023, available in some high-end restaurants.
- Israel – Aleph Farms and other companies are preparing for commercial launches.
- Australia – Legalised in 2025, with local company Vow leading the way.
For now, cultivated meat is limited to pilot launches. But more countries are reviewing approvals, and each year more products come online.
Does lab-grown chicken exist?
Yes. Several companies grow cultivated chicken. GOOD Meat has served chicken satay, nuggets, and skewers. UPSIDE Foods has worked on cultivated chicken fillets. Singaporean diners have already tasted them.
Chicken is a key focus because it is the most widely consumed meat globally. It’s also the meat most produced in factory farms — making cultivated chicken a big opportunity to reduce suffering.
Is cultivated meat healthier than animal meat?
Cultivated meat has potential health advantages. Because it is grown in sterile conditions, it does not require antibiotics. That means no contribution to antibiotic resistance (a growing global health threat).
Scientists may also be able to fine-tune cultivated meat’s nutrition. For example, they could reduce saturated fat or boost healthy fats like omega-3s. That would make cultivated meat healthier than conventional beef or chicken.
There is also less risk of contamination with pathogens like Salmonella, Campylobacter or E. coli. That could mean fewer foodborne illnesses. Given that every year in New Zealand thousands of people fall sick with Campylobacter, this could be a huge benefit to human health.
Is cultivated meat safe for you?
The evidence shows that cultivated meat is safe. Regulatory approval in Singapore, the United States, Israel, Australia and New Zealand only came after safety assessments. It is likely to be safer than animal meat, since it doesn’t risk the many diseases that meat and other animal products can be contaminated with.
In short, cultivated meat is no more “synthetic” than beer or bread. But whether it ends up being healthier or less healthy than conventional meat depends on final formulations and consumer choices.
How is cultivated meat made?
Cultivated meat production happens in several steps:
- Cell selection – Scientists take a small sample of animal cells (muscle, fat, or stem cells).
- Cell culture – Cells are placed in a nutrient-rich medium that provides proteins, sugars, and vitamins.
- Growth in bioreactors – Cells multiply in tanks that control temperature, oxygen, and nutrients.
- Scaffolding – Cells attach to edible structures that give them shape and texture.
- Harvesting – The resulting tissue is collected, processed, and turned into meat products.
The process is similar in principle to brewing beer or making yoghurt- but instead of yeast or bacteria, animal cells do the growing. See the Good Food Institute’s scientific explainer for a full breakdown.
Is cultivated meat good for the environment?
One of the biggest hopes for cultivated meat is its environmental impact. Raising billions of animals for food is resource-intensive. It requires vast amounts of land, water, and feed. It also produces methane and nitrous oxide, two powerful greenhouse gases.
Cultivated meat could reduce land use by up to 90% and water use by up to 70%, depending on the product. It could also dramatically reduce methane emissions — especially important for New Zealand, where the farming of sheep and cows drives much of the country’s climate footprint.
However, cultivated meat does require energy. If that energy comes from fossil fuels, benefits shrink. A sustainable future depends on pairing cultivated meat with renewable energy.
How much does cultivated meat cost and when will it reach price parity?
The first cultivated burger in 2013 cost over US$300,000. Today, costs have fallen to under US$10 per burger in pilot facilities. But cultivated meat is still far from supermarket prices.
When will it reach parity? A 2024 study in Nature, reviewed techno-economic models and found that large-scale production could bring prices close to conventional meat in the 2030s. Some companies, like Aleph Farms, predict parity as early as 2028 for certain products.
Costs will depend on scaling bioreactors, reducing the price of growth medium, and achieving efficient supply chains. Just like solar panels or genome sequencing, the curve could be steep once production scales up.
How will cultivated meat affect animals in New Zealand?
Each year, tens of millions of chickens are slaughtered in New Zealand. Most live in highly intensive conditions. Cultivated meat could one day replace much or all of this farming, sparing countless animals from suffering.
It won’t happen overnight. Cultivated meat will start small – just like plant-based meat did. But over time, as costs drop and consumer awareness grows, it could become a major part of the market. In the meantime, people who want to reduce animal suffering can choose plant-based chicken alternatives available now.
Will McDonald’s and other fast food chains use cultivated meat?
Not yet. No major fast-food chain has launched cultivated meat products. But chains like McDonald’s, KFC, and Burger King are watching closely. Many already offer plant-based burgers and nuggets.
If cultivated meat reaches price parity, fast food could be one of the first large-scale markets. After all, chicken nuggets and burger patties are easier to make with cultivated meat than, say, a whole steak.
Is there cultivated meat in pet food?
Yes, pet food might even be an earlier market than human food. Companies in the US and Europe are developing cultivated chicken, beef, and fish for cats and dogs. The UK was the first country in Europe to approve cultivated meat for use in pet food in July 2024. The company Meatly launched the world’s first cultivated meat pet food – using mouse cells to produce mouse meat – on sale in the UK in February 2025, specifically dog treats.
Why? Pet food is a multi-billion-dollar industry. Cultivated meat could provide a cruelty-free option for cats. As The Guardian noted, this could be a stepping stone towards mainstream acceptance.
What does cultivated meat mean for New Zealand’s future?
New Zealand faces a unique crossroads. The country’s economy depends heavily on meat and dairy exports. At the same time, it has strong scientific research, renewable energy potential, and a reputation for innovation.
Cultivated meat could:
- Provide new biotech jobs and industries.
- Reduce the nation’s methane footprint.
- Help align food production with climate goals.
- Offer consumers cruelty-free options.
New Zealand can also look to its beer industry for a parallel. Brewing transformed from a traditional craft into a high-tech, globally competitive sector that still celebrates local culture. Similarly, cultivated meat could combine deep science with national identity, creating products that are proudly New Zealand while meeting modern sustainability expectations.
But it will also spark debates. What happens to farmers if demand for conventional meat drops? How can farmers be supported to transition into new areas of food production? How will regulators and communities respond? Will cultivated meat be embraced as a solution, or resisted as a threat to tradition?
These are open questions — but they are worth asking now.
What Cultivated Meat is Currently for Sale in Australia and New Zealand
Cultivated meat is beginning its journey out of production facilities and onto people’s plates. In May 2025, Australian cultivated meat company Vow received approval to begin selling their products in Australia, New Zealand and Singapore. You can find Forged, a line of products crafted from cultivated quail meat, at a number of fine dining restaurants across Australia.
There are currently no New Zealand-based food establishments serving cultivated meat, but with regulatory approval secured, there is no barrier preventing restaurants from following in Australia’s footsteps and adding cultivated quail to their menus.
What can people do right now?
Since cultivated meat is not yet available in New Zealand, people who want to reduce their impact can:
- Ask your favourite restaurant if they will add cultivated meat to their menu.
- Get a copy of our free recipe book and cook with plant-based chicken alternatives.
- Explore plant-based burgers, sausages, and dairy-free products in supermarkets.
- Stay informed as cultivated meat develops. Cellular Agriculture Australia has a newsletter you can subscribe to.
Every choice helps reduce animal suffering and builds demand for better options.
Conclusion: A kinder food future
Cultivated meat is real meat made without slaughter. It has the potential to transform food systems, reduce suffering, and tackle climate change. While it isn’t yet available in New Zealand, the global momentum is clear.
From Singapore’s cultivated chicken to Australia’s recent approval, the world is moving towards a future where meat can be grown without harm. Until then, plant-based alternatives remain the best option for anyone wanting to make compassionate choices today.