Petition against laboratory meat: regional agriculture is on the brink!

Petition against laboratory meat: regional agriculture is on the brink!

Österreich, Land - In the European Parliament, a group of farmers from Austria submitted a petition against the so -called laboratory meat. The presidents of the agricultural chambers, Andreas Steinegger and Siegfried Huber, urged the possible consequences of this new food production. The petition, which has collected more than 70,000 signatures from the federal states of Styria and Carinthia, aims to stop the approval process for laboratory meat products by the EU Commission. They emphasize that regional agriculture and high quality standards in European food production could be endangered if such products come onto the market.

Huber expressed his concerns about the pressure that competing products exercised on agriculture, in particular on small dairy farms. Steinegger also warned of the potential risks for food supply and appealed against the approval of laboratory meat. He and other agricultural spokesman called for a comprehensive scientific examination of health risks and a clear regulation of the market to guarantee the origin and labeling of laboratory meat products.

strong resistance from different countries

In addition to this petition, Austria, France and Italy founded a so-called culinary alliance in order to demand more transparency in artificial meat imitations. This initiative was launched at the meeting of the EU Agriculture Minister in January 2025, and 15 other EU countries have now joined. The Agricultural Minister of Austria, Norbert Totschnig, said that Labor meat was coming onto the market at a "rapid speed" and called for a discussion at the EU level about market registration. Steps to admit laboratory meat have already been taken in countries such as Israel and Switzerland, while tasting even takes place in the Netherlands. Laboratory meat is already available in Singapore and the USA.

Allianz calls for a comprehensive assessment of the consequences that takes into account different aspects such as ethical, economic and ecological questions. A central concern is the concern for small -scale agriculture, which could possibly come under pressure through large international corporations that could produce laboratory meat. It requires the EU Commission to act against impending monopolies and to protect smaller companies. The need for a clear labeling of laboratory meat is particularly emphasized so that consumers are able to make informed decisions and to distinguish between artificial cell tissue and natural foods.

troubling climate balance

Another aspect that is in the room is the environmental consequences of laboratory meat production. According to a request to the EU Commission, it is assumed that laboratory meat has a bad climate balance and generates up to 25 times more CO2 equivalents per kilogram than conventional meat. The initiative from Austria, France and Italy therefore also calls for a debate on how the vitalability of the livestock economy in Europe can be secured in the face of these impending challenges. The questions not only relate to long-term health and environmental consequences, but also to the preservation of a diversified agricultural generation in Europe.

The worrying developments and the different perspective on food safety and environmental seeing illustrate the gap between traditional agricultural practices and new, innovative production methods. The coming weeks and months will be crucial to help shape the future of food production in Europe.