China pushes ahead with bold plan on Cultivated Meat while Canada lags behind

February 9, 2022

Chinese Ministry of Agriculture's 5-Year Plan Includes Support for Cultivated Meat

By: The Policy Campaign Team

Cultivated meat is an agricultural innovation that has been slowly gaining traction in recent years. Based on a well-established understanding of cell biology, cultivated meat technology allows us to grow real meat in a food production facility without many of the environmental drawbacks of traditional agriculture.

While much of the focus has been on research and commercialization efforts in Europe and the United States, it seems that the technology might be getting a significant funding and research boost in China. The Chinese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs has released their new 5-year plan, where they make reference to supporting innovation for cultivated meat, part of a package of “frontier and cross-disciplinary technologies.” Such statements suggest that further financing and support is coming - building on existing announcements made last year of three-year research funding for “High-efficiency biological manufacturing technology of artificial meat.”

China’s 5-year plans set out the economic and political objectives for the country across the full spectrum of government departments and policy areas (e.g., energy, agriculture, education). The current plan (2021-2025) is the 14th since their introduction in 1953. While initially setting out rigid quotas for economic outputs (e.g., grain production), they have become more relaxed over the years. They are now described as being closer to manifestos, or party platforms. Despite this they still have considerable weight in deciding the direction and activity of China’s public and private sectors.

While they are not always wholly successful, China’s 5-year plans have a track record of leading rapid growth and expansion in target industries and technologies. For example, their 2016-2020 renewable energy plan propelled growth in their clean energy sector resulting in the nation exceeding ambitious 2020 targets for wind, solar and hydroelectric capacity generation . China installed more wind capacity in 2020 (71.67 GigaWatts) than the rest of the world combined in 2019 (60.4 GigaWatts).

China’s new 5-year plan could well result in similar rapid innovation and growth for the cultivated meat industry. This technology presents many health, social, economic and environmental advantages over traditional meat production - resulting in widespread global benefits. Current animal agriculture is a water, energy and land intensive process propelling deforestation globally, resulting in the loss of essential carbon sinks and biodiversity. Animal agriculture also propagates antibiotic resistance, zoonotic disease, and foodborne illness resulting in severe health implications affecting millions of people.

Canada’s agricultural industry is globally recognized and trusted, rendering it a top exporter for commodities such as canola, beef, veal, vegetables and poultry. The sector also has high domestic value, providing 2.1 million jobs in 2020 and contributing $139.3 billion to Canada’s GDP. With global protein production shifting to new sustainable technologies like cultivated meat, Canada’s lack of investment in the industry risks their global leadership status against major competitors like China.

To compete in the global market and ensure domestic food security, Canada must invest in cultivated meat. The nation has already strongly invested in plant-based protein alternatives like pulses and canola. The industry is supported with a potential of $173 million earmarked in funding allowing the creation of 4500 jobs over ten years, yet funding for cultivated meat remains absent from the federal government. As development of a cultivated meat industry is expected to take upwards of five years, Canada must begin investing and innovating now.

Initial support needed for the development of this sector is straightforward. Adequate federal funding must be ringfenced for start-up and academic research to develop cultivated meat technology. This will ensure that necessary financing, foundations and government oversight are in place to see benefits felt across the nation. In addition, development of clear regulations will support job creation and educational opportunities by ensuring cultivated meat products can be lawfully brought to market. Creation of safe, ethical and sustainable jobs and educational opportunities through cultivated meat will increase Canada’s economic status while allowing us to compete in this rapidly growing global innovation.

Canada has a fleeting opportunity to reap the benefits of cultivated meat. The technology will allow the nation to meet environmental targets, reduce domestic health expenditure, ensure food security and improve its global economic status. We must invest now and plant the seeds of innovation that will allow Canada to reap these long-term benefits.

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2024 Canada Animal Welfare Scorecard: Alarming Findings on Animal Welfare and Corporate Commitments

By Jessica Bohrson at Mercy For Animals • November 7, 2024

The 2024 Canada Animal Welfare Scorecard evaluated animal welfare commitments and transparency across 40 leading Canadian food companies. Focusing on cage-free eggs, gestation-crate-free pork, and adherence to Better Chicken Commitment (BCC) standards, the report uncovers serious gaps in transparency, industry-wide “humanewashing,” and persistent animal welfare issues. Here’s a breakdown of the most troubling findings. 1. Lack of Transparency in Major Retailers and Foodservice Providers Walmart Canada, Calgary Co-op, and Federated Co-operatives have demonstrated minimal transparency, failing to publish updates or roadmaps on their animal welfare commitments. Walmart Canada is the only top-five retailer in Canada not reporting any progress on welfare practices, despite publishing incremental updates in the U.S. Meanwhile, Calgary Co-op still lacks any published policies or progress toward ending confinement for hens and pigs, despite its members’ vote to support humane conditions over a decade ago. 2. Misleading Industry Claims and "Humanewashing" Tactics A major issue facing Canadian consumers is the widespread “humanewashing” in the food industry, where companies use misleading labels and terminology to suggest higher animal welfare standards than actually practiced. Companies like Burnbrae Farms label their eggs as “Nestlaid,” implying cage-free conditions, which leads nearly half of surveyed consumers to mistakenly believe these eggs come from open barns. Industry groups, including Chicken Farmers of Canada , amplify this confusion by using terms like “family farms” to evoke images of small, humane operations, even when products are sourced from intensive confinement systems. Rather than improving actual welfare standards, these organizations invest heavily in shaping public opinion through corporate responsibility reports and marketing campaigns, leaving consumers misinformed about the true conditions behind their food. 3. The Crisis of "Frankenchickens" in Poultry Production The Canadian poultry industry’s use of ultrafast-growing birds, often termed “Frankenchickens,” remains a primary welfare issue. These birds are bred to grow four times faster than chickens in the 1950s, resulting in painful health problems and limiting their ability to move or access food and water. Although companies have pledged to stop using these breeds by 2026, few have shown significant action on this front. Major Canadian poultry producers continue to use these breeds, creating severe welfare implications. 4. Continued Use of Gestation Crates for Pigs Gestation crates remain the norm across Canadian pork production, confining mother pigs in cramped stalls that prevent them from turning around. Some progress is evident, with companies like Costco and Starbucks Canada reporting steps toward group housing. However, Walmart Canada and Federated Co-operatives have not published policies or progress. While the industry timeline for complete phase-out stretches to 2029, these companies have yet to implement meaningful welfare improvements, prolonging extreme confinement for Canada’s 1.2 million breeding sows. 5. Slow Progress in the Shift to Cage-Free Eggs Despite growing opposition to cage confinement from Canadian consumers, the Canadian egg industry continues to invest in “enriched” cage systems that offer only minor improvements over conventional battery cages. Companies like Metro and Sobeys committed to sourcing cage-free eggs but report slow progress across their supply chains, while Calgary Co-op has yet to report any steps forward. Globally, over 2,600 companies have committed to eliminating cages, but Canada falls behind due to its reliance on slightly modified cage systems. Moving Forward: Accountability and Clear Roadmaps Required Companies need transparent roadmaps, annual goals, and consistent reporting to keep pace with rising consumer and investor expectations. Brands such as A&W Canada, Aramark, and Panago Pizza have set strong examples, publishing BCC-compliant policies and reporting progress, proving tangible progress is achievable. However, for others, a significant gapremains between public promises and the welfare practices in their supply chains.