The ultimate success of cell-cultured meat depends on consumer acceptance. What factors are driving, or hindering, uptake?

Consumer studies indicated at least seven factors affecting consumer acceptance of cultured meat: public awareness, risk-benefit perception, ethical and environmental concerns, personal factors, product properties and availability of meat alternatives.

Concerning ethical and environmental concerns, some previous research has found that animal welfare plays a role in consumers’ reduced meat diet and acceptance of cultured meat. Others have suggested that animal welfare and ecological concerns were the most influential drivers of consumers’ attitudes towards cultured meat.

…

Environmental and ethical concerns stimulate a desire to preserve the environment and encourage consumers to accept more sustainable food production systems. However, it was surprising to learn that ethical and environmental concerns prompted consumers to be willing to pay a premium for purchasing meat substitute (e.g plant based substitutes, but not necessarily cultured meat… The results indicated that the environmental advantages alone do not seem to be a strong motivation to compensate for perceived risks (or disgust impulse) of this novel technology.”

– [Researcher] Ashkan Pakseresht.

Following ethical and environmental concerns the next most significant factors included public awareness and knowledge, and personal factors.

This is an excerpt. Read the original post here.