BeneMeat has published a peer-reviewed life cycle assessment examining the environmental performance of its industrial-scale cultivated meat production, utilizing primary data from a 400-600 kg per day facility. The study reported cultivated meat emissions ranging from 3.3 to 6.6 kg CO2 equivalent per kilogram, finding it could achieve environmental impacts comparable to chicken and significantly lower than pork and beef in several categories. Input materials, such as soy protein isolate and glucose, were identified as the dominant drivers of environmental impact, with their origin being a critical factor. While cultivated meat required significantly less land, its water use was comparable to some intensive livestock systems, and it was more energy-intensive than conventional meat. The assessment emphasized that environmental performance is highly sensitive to system design choices, input selection, and energy sources.
From cells to real meat