Nearly $100 billion. According to current research, that’s what the global cell-based meat market could be worth by 2030. It’s a number that’s attracting pioneers from biotech and food manufacturing, eager to plant their flag in this unexplored market.
But those pioneers need to consider another dollar figure: $330,000, which is what it cost to make the world’s first cultivated burger in 2013. Since then, that cost has fallen—but it’s still far from parity with animal-based protein. Even if consumers are ready to fill their plates with no-kill nuggets, they’re unlikely to empty their wallets for the privilege.