The cultivated meat industry, which produces animal protein from cells rather than slaughtered livestock, has faced significant challenges in establishing a clear regulatory framework. Because the technology involves both biological cell culture and food production, it initially fell into a jurisdictional gray area between the FDA and the USDA. Research by Alicia DeSantola and her colleagues indicates that startups often struggled when they adopted a disruptive posture that positioned them as direct threats to traditional agriculture. Conversely, companies that framed themselves as partners to existing meat processors were more successful in fostering collaboration. This cooperative approach eventually led to a formal agreement between the two federal agencies in 2019. The case demonstrates that for emerging industries, engaging with incumbents and helping to define regulatory standards can be as critical to success as the underlying technology itself.
Source: What Cultivated Meat Teaches About Building New Industries
